Manager hoping to start an FA Cup run
Manager Micky Mellon hopes to carry the magic from Shrewsbury Town's Capital One Cup run into Saturday's FA Cup trip to Walsall.Town travel to the Banks's Stadium at the weekend (3pm kick-off) for the First Round Proper clash against the Saddlers - who currently sit 16th in Sky Bet League 1.
Micky's side went on a heroic run in the League Cup by knocking out Blackpool, Leicester City and Norwich City - all higher-division opposition - before bowing out to Premier League leaders Chelsea.
And the Town boss is hoping for another good cup run, this time in the FA Cup starting with the short trip on Saturday.
"I hope we can repeat the magic of the Capital One Cup in the FA Cup this weekend," said Micky.
"It's a competition we take very seriously, we know how important it is for the reasons we all know.
"It's a local derby and a game we're really looking forward to, and it's another opportunity to test ourselves against a team from a higher division, against a team that has come out on top against Shrewsbury in previous years.
"It gives us an opportunity to see how far we've moved forward."
A number of Football League teams have been drawn against non-league teams in the FA Cup this season and Micky is glad that the Shrews have avoided a potential banana skin.
"I'd rather have a league team in the FA Cup rather than a non-league side," he said.
"When the draw came out it ticked a lot of boxes for us, we knew it was going to be a tough challenge but one that we're looking forward to and excited about.
"We're looking forward to getting over there and getting it on."
The Shrews head to Walsall on Saturday with no fresh injury worries, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro back in light training and news of a midfielder returning to the grass at the training ground.
"Andy Robinson is back in training this week, not with the lads but he's back on the grass," said Micky.
"Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro has done some light training after he felt his hamstring tighten, so we'll assess him tomorrow."
Town have a plethora of midfielders in fine form at the moment with Liam Lawrence holding his nerve against Dagenham and James Wesolowski back to full fitness, with Micky being confident in every centre midfielder's ability to step up when needed.
"James is fit and Liam is in good form so it's a good problem to have," said Micky.
"We've also got Aaron Wildig who's training well, they're all training really well.
"We've got a really good squad here and, when called upon, they'll be ready that's for sure because the tempo of training here is always the same.
"If a player has a shirt in the starting eleven, it's there's to keep. They've got a job to do and they've got to make sure they do it because you're responsible to the whole group to do a job so they've got to be concentrated on it and do it."