Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says his side are optimistic about avoiding an FA Cup upset at the hands of Championship side Swansea City.
The west-London club made it through to the fifth round after being given a scare by non-league side Kettering, eventually running out 4-2 winners.
Swansea knocked out holders Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park.
“We will look optimistically towards the game believing we are capable of going through,” said Hodgson.
“The lads feel they’ve got the ability and quality to continue in the competition.
“But anything we say is irrelevant. It’s really how well we are going to do when we go down there and play.”
Hodgson accepts it will be a tough challenge against a Swansea side who are proving to be the dark horses of the Championship since winning promotion from League One last season.
Roberto Martinez’s side are unbeaten in 15 league and cup games and just two points off the play-offs.
Fulham are 10th in the Premier League without a win away from home all season.
Hodgson said: “With the results we’ve seen from Championship teams against even the top Premier League team, Derby v Man Utd, Cardiff v Arsenal, Swansea v Portsmouth, I don’t think we are really looking at vast differences in one-off matches.
“I think over a 45 to 50 game season, the strength in depth of the Premier League teams, the fact they play every week at a probably more intense level, that can have a bearing.
“So if Swansea were to be in the Premier League today, they might not be in the top four, they might be closer to the bottom.
“Having said that, in a one-off game like this it makes no difference. In fact, you could even argue a little bit of a reverse.
“They have got so much to play for, there is such a lot of privilege involved and bragging rights are so important in a game like this, you could find it works against them.”
