CHRIS LAKEY Darren Huckerby is looking forward to putting the trials and tribulations of the Championship behind him this weekend, with a return to FA Cup action.s

CHRIS LAKEY

Darren Huckerby is looking forward to putting the trials and tribulations of the Championship behind him this weekend, with a return to FA Cup action.

The Canaries winger has good reason to enjoy the world's oldest knockout competition - two goals in the last round at Tamworth took his career tally to a very acceptable 10 in 22 starts.

But even that victory failed to help City to shake off the gremlins which have followed them around the Championship this season.

So while Blackpool in January might not be everyone's weekend of choice, for Huckerby it's a welcome break.

"It probably takes our minds off the league a little bit," he said. "We have been a bit stop start in the league and it gives us a chance to take a bit of pressure off and go up and get a victory.

"It is a game we can win and progress into the next round. I know they are on a good run, but cup games are very different - you could see that in the last round. Anything can happen, and we will go there and be professional and hopefully get the job done."

There is the unwelcome prospect of being humbled by a team a division below - but Huckerby believes one of the alternatives would spell the end of a cup run almost as soon as it had started.

"I would rather play Blackpool than the Chelseas and Man Uniteds, because realistically you have no chance - always one of the big four wins it," he said. "Hopefully we can go as far as we can. You don't know what is going to happen - as long as we can stay clear of the big four I think we have a chance."

Confidence will be a key factor - City, struggling in 17th in the Championship, could be short of it while their hosts, nicely placed at seventh in League One, could be full of it.

Then there's the Robert Earnshaw factor.

"We have the quality there," said Huckerby. "Earnie not being fit for the rest of the season leaves us short. It is a big blow, he can always nick you a goal, so we are going to miss him and it is up to the rest to try and win games."

All eyes will inevitably fall on Huckerby when it comes to getting the goals in the absence of the leading scorer and the left winger

says he is ready for the call.

"I don't know where I will be playing - if I have to go and play up front I will gladly do it," he said. "Playing up front and playing left wing is a completely different game and I haven't played up front for two years now, so if I have to do it, I have to do it and will give it my best shot."