Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger is excited for his first taste of FA Cup action in the dugout as part of a bank holiday weekend double-header for his team.

Grainger’s Reds take on Newcastle Benfield in the cup’s preliminary round at Sam Smith’s Park tomorrow (3pm kick-off) before hosting Pontefract Collieries on Monday (3pm kick-off) in the NPL North West Division at Borough Park looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

Newcastle picked up a morale-boosting 6-1 win in midweek but Grainger believes his players also have every reason to travel to the North East feeling confident of what they are capable of.

“We are going over there full of confidence and looking to get the result,” Grainger said.

“When you look at the performances that we’ve had they’ve been quite different.

“Tuesday night we really dug deep and ground out a great result on the road while Saturday was maybe a better performance on the ball.

“No matter what happens we want to get out of there with the result and into the next round, that’s the priority.”

As well as being keen to see his side build on the momentum generated by back-to-back wins in their first two league games, Grainger is also motivated by the financial boost a cup run could provide for the club and the prestige of the competition.

“Everyone knows the revenue from the cup is massive for lower league clubs and again you have the magic of the cup which I felt when coming down from Scotland,” he said.

“There really is a buzz around it so we’ll make sure we’re all up for the game and go there with the right attitude and looking to go through.”

This weekend’s games will come too soon for Sam Smith but Grainger hopes he will be ready to feature next weekend for the trip to take on City of Liverpool, which Gari Rowntree will miss due to suspension after his red card against Trafford on Tuesday night.

Owen Bell will also remain absent this weekend due to personal reasons while another player was also an injury concern and was due to be assessed by the Reds boss in training.

There is a different kind of test ahead for some of the players tonight when they make their debut in the monthly quiz at Borough Park.

Chairman John Mackay has persuaded a group to enter the test of sport and general knowledge in the popular fun quiz hosted by Jimmy Walsh.

Jimmy said: “I thoroughly enjoyed Saturday’s 4-1 win over Pickering and I’m looking forward to seeing the lads show their other skills at the quiz. It will be good fun.”

The quiz will be under way at 7.30pm in the Shankly Lounge at Borough Park.