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Kick off 15.00 3rd January 2009

Too soon for Billy Davies to be in charge, he will be watching from the stands, although it's certain he will have his input into his new side's formation. Billy's combative nature is well known, and his lads will be keen to impress the new boss by a giant-killing display over "moneybags Citeh" as we are pleased to be known these days. With Forest facing a relegation battle in the Championship, he has his work cut out, but Forest fans should quickly warm to his style of leadership and play. Good luck to the Forest and Billy Davies (in the league, of course, not the cup)

Back to more pressing matters, and Robert Earnshaw's season tally of 7 goals makes him the man to watch in the Forest line-up, although it seems caretaker boss John Pemberton's final game in charge will be without defenders Julian Bennett and Joel Lynch due to injury.

City will be treating the tie very seriously, aware of what damage Forest could potentially inflict, so we don't see Hughes fielding a weak team although Nedum Onouha is again doubtful due to a hamstring problem.

Interesting little snippet here from the Official Nottingham Forest site, with thanks.

Saturday's Cup tie will be the 99th meeting between Forest and City in a competitive fixture.
City have recorded 40 victories, compared to 31 successes for The Reds, with 27 draws.
A hat-trick by Nottingham-born Darren Huckerby sent Forest tumbling to defeat when they last met, at Maine Road in March 2002.
Paul Hart's men more than held their own against a City side managed by Kevin Keegan and destined for a return to the Premiership. Huckerby, who would join Forest on loan the following season and helped them reach the play-offs, proved to be the crucial difference between the two sides as City ran out 3-0 winners.
He opened his goal account in the 39th minute with a spectacular volley from just inside the box and then capitalised on a slack back pass by David Prutton to add a second just before the break.
Huckerby had to wait until seven minutes from time before completing his hat-trick with a penalty after Matthieu Louis-Jean had brought down Niclas Jensen.
Incidentally, the City line-up that day included a certain Stuart Pearce - as well as Richard Dunne and Shaun Wright-Phillips, both of whom are likely to feature against Forest at the weekend.

Excellent stuff, could and should be a classic cuptie!