TWO years ago former York City ace Jon McCarthy starred in the Port Vale ranks that set up a potential FA Cup shock for Premiership Leeds United.

A goal-less draw in the fifth round encounter at Elland Road took McCarthy and the rest of the Valiants back to home turf hopeful of continuing a scalp-collecting run that included Crystal Palace and Everton in the two previous rounds.

However, a Leeds line-up inspired by then captain Gary McAllister ruined the Vale Park party, the top-flight side winning 2-1 and McCarthy guilty of a crucial miss. Now Supermac is back at the Leeds stronghold. Tomorrow he will be in the famous blue of Birmingham City charged with overcoming George Graham's army to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

The last time Leeds met Birmingham in a cup clash was in the same season that Port Vale were eventually dispatched. The collision was in the semi-final of the Coca-Cola Cup, Leeds prevailing 5-1 on aggregate to a Wembley duel with Aston Villa, who avenged Midlands pride in style.

The formbook would suggest Leeds similarly see off Birmingham, but the Blues have hit on a sturdy seam of form steering them to the fringe of the first Division play-offs.

And in Steve Bruce and Gary Ablett they boast men who know what is like to win the FA Cup at Wembley.

Yorkshire have a 50-50 chance of boasting the first team though to this year's quarter-finals. Sheffield United, under the stewardship of Nigel Spackman, one of the most astute of the young crop of managers, entertain Reading tonight. While the Blades have lost the cutting edge of Brian Deane and Jan-Age Fjortoft they do possess a match-winner in Dean Saunders. The Royals' hopes will lie largely with the equally potent poaching skills of veteran Trevor Morley.

One of Morley's former clubs West Ham feature in an intriguing all Premiership battle tomorrow.

The Hammers are hosts to Blackburn Rovers, a spat pitting two of the upper tier's most productive scorers against each other. How West Ham's John Hartson and Rovers' Chris Sutton will fare against respective defences will prove crucial.

Against any other side the Londoners would be rated clear favourites after establishing Upton Park as a near-impregnable base.

But Blackburn have proved past masters at grinding out results and it's unlikely the teak-like back two of Stephane Henchoz and Colin Hendry will be as surprisingly brittle as they were in the shock League defeat by Tottenham last weekend.

The other all top-flight engagement throws rampant Coventry City towards Aston Villa and a Villa Park stadium where their record is lamentable.

But the Sky Blues' renaissance will have been given extra steam by the midweek international duty enjoyed by top scorer Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby. Each wore respective full England and England 'B' shirts with pride. Reunited in Coventry stripes they will test Villa to the full.

However, Brian Little's men have a cup look about them and with the irrepressible Dwight Yorke back in goal-scoring groove they can anticipate emulating their UEFA Cup quarter-final feat.

There will be a certain sense of relief at St James' Park. Newcastle United will cordially welcome a hype-free zone with the fifth round visit of Tranmere Rovers, unlike the fourth-round snipe and snarl set-to with Stevenage that left more than a sour taste in one mouth.

But though Tranmere may languish in the bottom reaches of the First Division they are more than capable of springing a surprise.

What a feather it would be in manager John Aldridge's cap if he can best the side managed by Kenny Dalglish, who took 'Aldo' to Liverpool.

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