The fabled magic of the FA Cup has definitely diminished in recent years, but third round weekend remains one of the highlights of the English footballing calendar. With all of the west London sides being drawn at home, this fixture has been switched to a Friday night – which will no doubt hit the attendance figures, especially for the Rotherham United supporters who might well have been looking forward to a Saturday in London. The Millers had sold 700 tickets yesterday afternoon, which is an exceptional effort given that they are some fourteen months and 28 games without a win away from home.

Marco Silva has spoken in glowing terms about the tradition and importance of the FA Cup – and there is definitely a feeling within the Fulham squad that the club have some unfinished business with the competition, having led 1-0 at Old Trafford in last season’s quarter-final until those three red cards turned of the Whites’ most impressive away performances in years into a routine victory for Erik ten Hag’s side. Ironically, Fulham’s historic progression to next week’s League Cup semi-finals – as well as local derby looming into view the following weekend, of course – could impact on just how strong a side Silva sends out for this particular fixture – but the Fulham head coach asserted that will fully focused on taking on the Championship strugglers.

The hosts should head into this contest in good spirits after their outstanding victory over Arsenal, where they came from behind to cast more doubt on the validity of Mikel Arteta’s title challenge. Whilst Silva’s side played some exquisite football, their desire and determination was striking as they both recorded a first win over one of the top six in the Portuguese head coach’s tenure but also ended a worrying run of three straight defeats in the best possible manner. The team that starts this evening will likely look a little different to the eleven that began the game against the Gunners, but the Cup tie should offer an opportunity to a few fringe figures in the first team squad.

For instance, Marek Rodak, who enjoyed two successful loan spells with Rotherham, should get a rare outing in goal in place of Bernd Leno. Kenny Tete could come back into the side at right back, with Timothy Castagne, who was excellent against Arsenal, moving over to the left flank. There will have to be a change in the centre of defence, with Calvin Bassey now preparing for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations with Nigeria, and as this fixture comes too soon for Tim Ream, Silva has the opportunity of playing Issa Diop or academy prospect Luc de Fougerolles. The midfield could be overhauled as well with the likes of Harrison Reed and Sasa Lukic replacing Joao Palhinha and Tom Cairney, whilst Andreas Pereira, Harry Wilson, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz will all be looking to gain minutes.

The Millers, who won just two of their first fifteen league fixtures before dispensing with the services of Matt Taylor, have begun to hit form under new manager Leam Richardson. They registered an impressive win over Middlesbrough and earned creditable points against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers. Richardson’s squad includes a number of players who featured regularly against Fulham when the Whites were plugging away in the Championship, like former Cardiff City captain Sean Morrison and the ex-Hull City pair of Sam Clucas and Tom Eaves as well as the former Preston North End centre forward Jordan Hugill. Rotherham’s record signing is the brother of former Fulham academy striker Jean-Pierre Tiehi.

Richardson will have to juggle a lengthy injury list as he plans changes to his side with securing Championship safety remaining his number one priority. Rotherham will be without Tyler Blackett, Daniel Ayala, Andre Green, Lee Peltier, Grant Hall, Cameron Humphreys-Grant, Fred Onyedinma and Shane Ferguson through injury, whilst the recalled Peter Kioso is ineligible for this game having already featured in the FA Cup whilst on loan with Peterborough United. Rotherham haven’t reached the fourth round of the competition since 2002 – but Fulham will need to beware the predatory instincts of striker Sam Nombe, who scored 27 goals in 85 games at Exeter City before moving to the Millers in August.

The Premier League side will be firm favourites to book a place in round four, but Fulham will require a professional performance to avoid the kind of upset that has plagued the Whites in previous years.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Castagne, Diop, de Fougerolles; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira; Vinicius. Subs: Wickens, Tanton, Adarabioyo, Palhinha, Cairney, Willian, O’Neill, Muniz, Jimenez.