HARROGATE-BORN defender Andy O'Brien will be aiming to ensure against an FA Cup old gold nightmare tomorrow.

O'Brien has been a pivotal influence at the heart of a rearguard of a Newcastle United team that is now habouring genuine Premiership title ambitions.

Their St James' Park triumph over Liverpool hoisted Sir Bobby Robson's men into fourth place in the top-flight title race. Excitement is gathering at a Geordie gallop.

But when Sunday comes it will be a different tack for O'Brien and his fellow Magpies.

They travel to the Molineux home of Nationwide First Division under-achievers Wolves.

And though there is a considerable chasm between the two sides in terms of League placings O'Brien and Co. know that Wolves, at home, represent a major menace to a prolonged Toon Army run in the FA Cup.

Wolves' failure to transform major investment and a huge following into achieving an ascent into the elite division of the domestic game, will guarantee they will be at their maximum to inflict a body-blow on the rampant North-easterners.

That will put Republic of Ireland international O'Brien and his fellow defenders on full alert.

However, the player who, as a youngster had a brief spell with both York City and Leeds United youth teams, will at least be be able to summon some inside knowledge ahead of tomorrow's intriguing tie.

Just recently Wolves crashed at home to lowly Bradford City - ironically the club where O'Brien first chiselled out his defensive resilience before a £2million move to the north-east two seasons ago.

His former Bantams' team-mates will have been able to give him some sort of lowdown on what to expect in the Wolves' lair tomorrow.

The tie also provides another north Yorkshire connection.

The hosts' number two to manager Dave Jones is none other than John Ward, the man who so brilliantly, but briefly, bossed York City between 1991 and 1993.

However, confidence breeds success and Newcastle are nothing if not optimistic about the remaining four months of the campaign.

O'Brien has always been the epitome of modesty as regards predictions, but he has now targeted a top three finish for Newcastle after the Geordies' victory over free-falling Liverpool kicked off their New Year in style.

Updated: 11:47 Saturday, January 04, 2003