The underdogs will be out in force on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Carling Cup third round swings into action.
Tuesday’s stand out tie has to be the north London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane.
Although local bragging rights are on the line, respective managers Harry Redknapp and Arsenel Wenger may opt to field the stars of the future with their Champions League and Premier League commitments at the top of their priority lists this season.
There are two other all-Premier League clashes as Stoke City meet Fulham and Sunderland lock horns with a struggling West Ham United side at the Stadium of Light.
League One outfit MK Dons go to Birmingham City and they will be hoping to spring a surprise at St Andrew’s, while Notts County face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Brentford welcome Everton to their Griffin Park home and the Toffees could without any injuries ahead of another gruelling trip to the capital on Saturday where they face Fulham.
There is a north-west derby clash between Burnley and Bolton Wanderers at Turf Moor and it offers the hosts to put one over their rivals after they poached former manager Owen Coyle to the Reebok Stadium last term.
Swansea City go to League One high-flyers Peterborough while Millwall lock horns with Ipswich Town and Portsmouth battle it out with Leicester City on the south coast.
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On Wednesday, Scunthorpe have been handed a plum home test with Manchester United and they will want to showcase their talents against the Red Devils.
League Two side Northampton Town travel to Merseyside giants Liverpool, who are the massive online sportsbook favourites to win the game.
The Cobblers may not fancy their chances of progressing, but with the opportunity to come face-to-face with the likes of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Jamie Carragher, Ian Sampson’s men should enjoy their dream date at Anfield.
Championship side Preston North End make the short trip to neighbours Wigan Athletic.
Newcastle United face a long and daunting trip to Premier League and FA Cup holders Chelsea while there are two more all-Premier League clashes with last term’s losing finalists Aston Villa meeting Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion facing up to the big-spending Manchester City at The Hawthorns.
