SUNDERLAND V WATFORD
Sunderland are without central defender Emerson Thome, who is still recovering from knee ligament damage but will give midfielder Gavin McCann a late fitness test. Manager Howard Wilkinson looks set to choose between Phil Babb and on-loan Moroccan Telal el Karkouri for the defensive vacancy, and Kevin Kilbane returns to the squad after missing last week's 4-1 defeat at Tottenham. David Bellion, Jason McAteer, Matthew Piper and Thomas Butler are all available after recovering from injury.
The Black Cats are currently rock-bottom of the Premiership, having won only three out of 18 games under Wilkinson and the former Leeds boss has appointed ex club captain and midfield stalwart Kevin Ball to the coaching staff in an attempt to help turn around the Wearsiders' dismal season. "I'm thrilled to be offered a position with Sunderland," said the 38-year-old Ball. "My family has remained in the North East and I always hoped to return one day."
"Howard Wilkinson, Steve Cotterill and Jocky Scott have a tremendous amount of coaching experience and I feel I can benefit from their knowledge".
Watford remain well in contention for a First Division play-off berth, but Hornets' manager Ray Lewington freely admits that the club's motive for pulling off a cup giantkilling are largely financial. Watford have battled hard all season to prevent having to call in the administrators, indeed the players and office staff have agreed a 12 per cent wage deferral in an attempt to prevent the club falling further into debt. But the news that former manager Gianluca Vialli is to sue the club for £3 million makes Saturday's fifth round tie even more important.
"All the cup run money has been used to survive and it's still as tight as it's ever been," said Lewington. "Beating Sunderland would make a difference because you get a share of the prize money. Cup runs are important for clubs like us because if you're lucky enough to go far it (the money) can go a long way," he said.
Marcus Gayle is available after a calf injury but Lewington will be hoping that on-loan Jermaine Pennant can recover from an Achilles problem. "Pennant knows the fifth round of the cup is a big game. He'll know it's his type of stage," said the Vicarage Road boss.
SHAILY'S VERDICT: I wonder if Howard Wilkinson views this game as a minor distraction or welcome respite away from the club's priority that is Premiership survival. Either way I'm taking Sunderland, with not a great deal of confidence I might add, to seal a place in the quarter-finals at odds of 8/11.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V WALSALL
The Blades have had a great season thus far, and having reached the semi-final of the Worthington Cup, Neil Warnock's promotion-chasing side will be looking to secure a place in the last eight of the FA Cup.
The United boss will also be hoping that on-loan Wayne Quinn will have recovered from the back injury that forced him out of last Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Ipswich. Definitely missing will be Dean Windass, who is cup tied, so Warnock could start with veteran Wayne Allison and Tommy Mooney in attack.
Walsall are waiting on the fitness of Ian Roper, who is struggling with a groin strain, but manager Colin Lee is confident that he will be fit to take his place in the side. The Saddlers will be without the services of Neil Emblem, who has returned to Norwich after a loan spell but Danny Hay is available again after serving a ban for picking up five yellow cards.
Lee will be looking for his side to bounce back from the disappointment of last week's 4-1 home defeat at the hands of highflying Leicester City.
SHAILY'S VERDICT: Both teams go into this game on the back of a defeat, but last week's results aside all form points to a home win. At last the long suffering Blades' fans have had something to shout about this term and I take United to edge their way into their second quarter final of the season. However, you won't be getting rich on the 4/7 odds on offer.
