Tranmere Rovers will park their current league struggles this weekend as they head south to Premier League Watford in an exciting FA Cup Third Round clash.

Around 2,700 supporters will make the journey after the Birkenhead club sold out it’s initial allocation of 2,200 tickets and a further allocation was made available to the Super White Army.

Whereas Rovers have been finding life tough in League One, their opponents have been struggling in the Premier League until the recent appointment of new manager Nigel Pearson.

A run of three wins and a draw under the former Leicester boss has lifted the Vicarage Road club off the bottom of the table but Rovers will be hoping that the FA Cup is an unwanted distraction in their pursuit of Premier League survival and an upset could be on the cards.

Micky Mellon will have new signing Peter Clarke available and he will be expected to go straight into the heart of the defence, an area that has been identified as in serious need of strengthening.

Without a win in their last three matches and the added issue of a lengthy injury list, it seems unlikely that Rovers will produce a giant-killing act, but having seen off Chichester City and Wycombe Wanderers in rounds one and two, Tranmere have earned the right to face Premier League opposition with a fixture that has clearly wet the appetite of their supporters for a big day out.

The club confirms that defenders Liam Ridehalgh and Manny Monthe are both doubtful, with injuries sustained over the Christmas run of fixtures. Goalkeeper Scott Davies continues to be side lined alongside a host of other long-term absentees.

Watford were of course, last year’s FA Cup finalists, seeing off Wolves 3-2 in the semi-final after extra time but suffering an embarrassing 6-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the final.

This will be Rovers’ first trip to Vicarage Road in 19 years, last playing out a 1-1 draw in April 2001 in Division One.

Former Barcelona and Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu is their current top scorer with four goals alongside Ismaila Sarr. Experienced target man Troy Deeney sits one behind on three and if selected on Saturday, will be a major aerial threat from set-pieces – something Tranmere have failed to deal well with all season.

The action kicks off at 3.01pm tomorrow, with a full report to follow on the Globe website at full time.

Follow @garnster on Twitter for live match updates.