Going for glory - Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday

The FA Cup visits Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium. (Picture: Scott Merrylees)

NIGEL CLOUGH believes the possibility of a Steel City derby in the FA Cup quarter-finals will galvanise both Sheffield United and Wednesday this weekend.

The Blades, the lowest ranked side still in the competition, host Nottingham Forest tomorrow, while Stuart Gray’s Owls also have an eminently winnable tie today as Charlton Athletic come to Hillsborough.

With several of the Premier League’s biggest clubs going head-to-head in the fifth round, a possible route to Wembley and a semi-final appearance has opened up for a host of the game’s lesser lights.

Hull City, for instance, will fancy their chances of reaching at least the last four if they can negotiate Monday night’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.

For Sheffield’s two clubs, a similar level of anticipation exists ahead of their own ties with United manager Clough admitting that an all Steel City meeting in the quarter-finals would be a mouth-watering prospect.

He said: “A less fashionable team (Wigan Athletic) won the Cup last season and I felt that helped to freshen up the competition.

“It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that it could happen again, either. Or that a Football League club could have a big run. Our neighbours are still in the competition at home to Charlton. Then there is Brighton v Hull – there is a possibility there.

“Maybe a Championship team will get to the quarters or the semis. Or one from League One.

“It all depends on how kind the draw gets in those later stages. If you come up against an Arsenal or a Chelsea then you could struggle.

“But with Manchester City facing Chelsea and Arsenal drawing Liverpool, two of the big clubs will be out.

“So it could be a change from the big six and for me that is what the Cup is all about. It is great for the supporters of those clubs as well.

“Our neighbours are going into their game against Charlton reasonably confident and hopeful of getting to the last eight so the whole of Sheffield is hoping for a Sheffield quarter-final.

“This is an amazing city in that it supports two football clubs of such size. Two big clubs, probably equal in size. Not many cities would support that with the fervour that they do. I sense there is a real buzz about the city this week.