York City can embrace the legendary magic of the FA Cup and put a spell on the Premiership might of Fulham.

That's the view of first-team coach Adie Shaw, who just over four years ago was swept up by the romance of the world's best-known club cup competition.

Back then, Shaw was an integral part of the youth set-up at Chesterfield, who stunned football by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals against Middlesbrough.

And but for referee David Elleray not spotting striker Jonathan Howard's shot cross the goal-line to give the underdogs a 3-1 lead, the Spireites might well have reached Wembley.

Minutes later Craig Hignett scored an equaliser for Boro before Gianluca Festa grabbed the all-important winner in extra-time.

Now Shaw is number two to City manager Terry Dolan, the duo pitting their wits against Fulham's Jean Tigana and his French Foreign Legion in the fourth round showdown tomorrow.

While he admits it is a stiff task, Shaw sees no reason why the sorcery of the cup cannot rear its head again and admits to a tingling sense of dj vu.

"The feeling is quite a bit like it was at Chesterfield," said Shaw.

"At the time Chesterfield were in the wrong half of their division and the games were coming up thick and fast.

"We were playing on the Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday like we are here.

"We didn't have time to stop and think and we just got on a run that ran and ran.

"Before we knew it we were in the semi-finals, the fans went crazy and we had 30,000 at Old Trafford screaming us on against Middlesbrough."

Shaw admits City face a mighty task tomorrow but believes the Minstermen should take heart from having already claimed three scalps from higher divisions to reach the fourth round.

"It's the FA Cup and anything can happen," he reasoned.

"I am sure the players are looking forward to it because it is not often they are up against Premiership players.

"Having quite a young squad a lot of them will have hopes of playing in the Premiership and this will give them a chance to see what level they are at.

"We have done well against teams from higher divisions so far this season but this is a step further.

"It is up to the players and ourselves that they give themselves every chance of causing an upset."

* York City intermediates are on their travels tomorrow when they take on Darlington in a Football League Youth Alliance fixture, kick-off 11am.

Updated: 14:23 Friday, January 25, 2002