The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 10 January 2009
Arnott Stadium, Southport
Winning clubs will receive £6,000 from The FA
Click here for fixtures
Southport will have Rafael Benitez to thank if the they beat Durham City in their FA Trophy Second Round clash on Saturday - according to the Sandgrounders manager Liam Watson.
Southport may be a million miles from Liverpool in a footballing sense but only 20 miles seperates Anfield and the Arnott Stadium and, as a result, Liverpool have allowed their neighbours to use their indoor academy this week in a bid to beat the big freeze.
Training grounds across the country have been abandoned this week because of the exceptionally icy weather, but after using Liverpool's facility in Kirkby, the Southport boss is confident his Conference North team can advance to the Third Round.
A grateful Watson said: "It is fantastic that we have been able to train indoors - it was a really good gesture from Liverpool and nice to see the big boys helping the little boys out when they need it.
"It is not going to be easy though. Durham will be a very, very tough game and the pitch will suit them more than us and that could be a downfall.
"They are always a decent side at the back but we are a big side, so set- pieces will probably be very important on the day.
"I am confident that we will be well prepared, thanks to Liverpool, and it should be a good game. We will be treating them with a lot of respect."
And Watson confesses the thought of leading his team out at Wembley in The Final is a huge motivating factor.
"I would love to take Southport back there," he added - a reference to the club's appearance in the 1998 Final when they were beaten by Cheltenham Town.
"When you get further and further in this competition, you know you're only a few games away from Wembley and anything can happen - so who knows how far we can go?"