Farnborough Town of the Conference had their dream come true last season when they were paired with Arsenal in Round 4. They lost 5-1 at Highbury and no non-League side has managed to beat a side from the top division since Sutton United overcame Coventry City 2-1 at their little Gander Green Lane ground in 1989. Only two years earlier the Sky Blues had actually won the Cup.

This season's First Round Proper saw no fewer than five giant-killings and they all came at the first attempt. The five non-League clubs responsible for the kind of shocks for which the FA Cup is renowned were Accrington Stanley (1-0 v Huddersfield Town), Burton Albion (2-1 v Torquay United), Hornchurch (2-0 v Darlington), Scarborough (1-0 v Doncaster Rovers) and Stevenage Borough (2-1 v Stockport County).

Can we look forward to any more upsets in Round 2? Well, the non-Leaguers drawn at home would seem to have the better chance.

Telford United have been inconsistent in this season's Conference but they have a great FA Cup pedigree. In 1985 they made it through to the Fifth Round before losing to eventual finalists Everton at Goodison. Brentford, their opponents at the New Bucks Head Stadium tomorrow, had a curious First Round tie with Gainsborough Trinity last month.

The match was goalless a minute before half-time, with the UniBond League side holding their own, and yet the Londoners ended up 7-1 winners. Telford v Brentford could well go to a replay.

Woking, another Conference outfit, are Cup specialists too. In 1991 they won 4-2 at West Bromwich Albion in the Third Round and only went out by a single goal to Everton. In '97 they held Coventry City to a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road. Glenn Cockerill's current Woking team have proved themselves to be hard to beat at home this season and visitors Kidderminster Harriers won't relish the trip. Cockerill was an FA Cup semi-finalist with Southampton as a player in 1986 and Woking v Kidderminster is a repeat of The FA Trophy Final at Wembley in 1995 (2-1 to Woking).

Ambitious Hornchurch were promoted from the Ryman League's First Division North to the Premier Division at the end of last season and they have so far enjoyed a consistent place in the top three or four. They reached The FA Cup's Competition Proper for the first time this season and knocked out Third Division Darlington 2-0 at Hornchurch Stadium in the First Round last month. They will be able to count on the experience of former League players like Bradley Allen (QPR and Charlton) and Johnny Martin (Leyton Orient) but Saturday's opponents Tranmere Rovers will be a much more difficult proposition than struggling Darlington.

Two more classic non-League v League confrontations will have live TV coverage at the weekend. Gravesend & Northfleet of the Conference played Aston Villa at Villa Park in a Third Round tie in 1996 and have another chance of Cup glory at home to Notts County tomorrow (5.35 on Sky). Burton Albion, also of the Conference and managed by Nigel Clough, host Hartlepool United on Sunday (1.00 on BBC). The League sides will be favourites to progress.

Weston super Mare of the Dr Martens League Premier Division are in the Second Round Proper for the first time. Managed by Frank Gregan, who took Forest Green Rovers to Wembley in The FA Trophy Final in 1999, the Seagulls' face a difficult tie at Northampton Town. The other five non-Leaguers who travel to play League teams will also do well to get a result: Aldershot Town (at Colchester United), Accrington Stanley (at AFC Bournemouth), Barnet (at Yeovil Town), Scarborough (at Port Vale on Sunday) and Stevenage Borough (at Swansea City).

No Second Round Proper tie features two non-Leaguers playing each other, so it is conceivable that no club from outside the League will make it into Round 3. But there are enough ifs and buts to make that unlikely.