A trip to Anfield awaits Roberto Martinez and a head-to-head clash with fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez – but only if his side overcome a huge banana skin in the form of Havant & Waterlooville.
The Swansea boss is without Andrea Orlandi (knee), Darren Way (hamstring), Alan Tate and Ferrie Bodde (suspension) as his side face an explosive replay at West Leigh Park.
The Hawks pulled off a stunning 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium ten days ago as the League Two league leaders hit a yellow brick wall. However, a rugged Brett Poate challenge on Orlandi saw a 22-man brawl follow with Poate rightly dismissed.
That led to Martinez criticising Havant's tactics but manager Shaun Gale stood his ground and there is an undercurrent ahead of this televised tie. Martinez has added fuel to the fire by hitting out at the FA for allowing Poate to play but denying Tate – who was sent off for striking an opponent in the brawl that followed – a similar opportunity
The FA's fast-track rule, which enforces suspensions immediately, is not active below Conference level, meaning Poate's suspension does not start until 14 days after the game. "I can't understand it. Every time I think about it I get upset," slammed Martinez.
"One player who got sent off is allowed to play tomorrow and the other is not - I don't need to say too much because it speaks for itself. We are talking about fairness here. When you re-arrange a fixture, you are always told you have to allow the other team time to recover because we have to be fair in football.
"You talk about fairness and a level playing field, especially in a world-renowned competition like the FA Cup and something like this is allowed to happen."
Swansea have raised the issue with the Football Association but have been told nothing can be done before today's game. "We've tried everything," Martinez admitted. "I think the FA are going to use this case for future reference and probably after this the rules will be changed."
However, Poate has protested his innocence over the tackle on Orlandi that left him poleaxed - and warned Swansea to expect another battle second time around. "I didn't go in to hurt the guy, I went in hard to win the ball," said the plasterer. "I had one foot over the ball and caught his leg quite high, but I didn't mean to do it and I'm not that sort of player.
"The comments from their manager about us being nasty and not seeing tackles like it before aren't fair. We aren't going to stand off them in the replay either because we know they are a very good team. We'll be told to be in their faces."
That view was echoed by Havant assistant and former combative midfielder Charlie Oatway. The former Brentford star is part of a two-man team with Gale that has brought the spotlight to this Hampshire town.
Whilst romanticists are yearning for an all-Spanish affair in Round Four, Oatway wants the Hawks to play party poopers once again and earn a once in a lifetime trip to Anfield. "More of the same will be needed at West Leigh Park," he admitted. "All we have done is give ourselves a little bit more of an opportunity.
"The odds may be slightly better but we still have a huge task ahead of us. Swansea have shown all season they are the best team in League One and are a fantastic side. I should imagine the last thing they wanted to do was come down here for a replay and they will possibly look at the game a little bit differently after the first encounter.
"The possible carrot for the winner is a tie against Liverpool. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the lads to play at Anfield and it would be something for them to tell their children and grandchildren about. If we got through to play Liverpool it would probably sort out the club financially for the next four or five years.
"We showed in the first game, though, that we are a team with a lot of heart and in front of a packed West Leigh Park crowd we will be giving it our best shot and who knows what might happen?"
