As Tranmere prepare for one of the biggest games in their recent history – certainly in terms of opponent – Micky Mellon has spoken about the importance of chance.

Rovers will host 12-times FA Cup winners Manchester United at Prenton Park on Sunday afternoon in the fourth round of the competition after they beat Watford in extra time on Thursday evening.

The Whites will run out in front of a full house hoping to cause yet another upset and take one of the biggest scalps in English football and manager Mellon was not exactly playing down their chances.

At Friday’s pre-match press conference, he said: “It’s probably as big as it gets for Tranmere, to any season welcome any club of that size and history to Prenton Park is fantastic for the whole area, the football club – for everybody really. It’s a real tonic.

“It’s been a long time (since Tranmere last played United) but it’s something that we’ll relish and something that the whole of the Wirral will look forward to.

“You can win any game. It’s obvious that Manchester United are going to have players of world class quality but you’ve got to believe that in any game if you get a lot of stuff right you give yourself a chance.

“There’s always chance in a game of football. There’s certain things that you’ve got to do in order to increase chance. So we will speak about chance a lot with the players over the next 48 hours.

“If we get it right then, yes, we will have an opportunity but we obviously know we are going to have to get a hell of lot right but why not give it the best go that you can?”

Whereas Rovers’ league form has left them stuck in the relegation zone in League One, it is a different story in the FA Cup.

Having struggled for any level of consistency in the league, Mellon’s players stepped up as one on Thursday evening to not only beat Premier League Watford, but deservedly so as well.

Playing a team with the stature of United is another situation but the Scot sees know reason to over-complicate the occasion for his players.

He said: “You approach it knowing that it’s a big game, you don’t need to tell the players that. You just need to go out there and do your jobs. There’s nothing really to lose. You’ve just got to go out there and give it your best shot and ensure that you leaving everything on the pitch.”

The Red Devils will arrive in Birkenhead with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure, having suffered a dismal loss at home to Burnley midweek, but Mellon made light of that matter, adding: “I wish I was concerned with the form as the manager of Manchester United! They’ve got unbelievable players. That form can flip in a switch. You know that at any given time they can punish you.

Mellon has no new injuries to report, with Morgan Ferrier and Paul Mullin both expected to be fit to play if selected.

“Everyone who is fit at the football club wants to be involved but there will be no emotion in picking the team that’s for sure. We all know why we are here and that’s to try and make Tranmere successful,” he said.

“It’s amazing isn’t it? My physio becomes redundant now. He’s scratching around for something to do. But that’s great, I’ve no problem with that!” he added.

Mellon has never met fellow Glaswegian Sir Alex Ferguson, but when asked if he would look forward to the possibility of meeting him, he said: “At least we’ll understand each other! I know his son Darren very well. My dad and my grandparents are from the same area as his family.

“Anyone who knows anything about football knows about the size of Manchester United, but we’re not playing against the size of Manchester United, we’re playing against Manchester United’s team.

“We’ll concentrate on that, fight to try and get something from the game. We know it’s going to be tough but we’re looking forward to it.”