"WE don't want this run to end - we don't know where it could take us."

So said manager Steve Watson ahead of York City's FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Stockport County at Bootham Crescent Saturday evening (5.20pm), which will be shown live on BT Sport 1.

Pre-season included, York are now unbeaten in 21 games and their form thus far has taken them three points clear at the top of the National League North.

Watson has also said he "would have no problem" involving striker Dan Maguire or right-sided wing-back Kallum Griffiths against Stockport. Maguire has been absent since the opening day of the season, while Griffiths has missed the last five games.

"There's no hiding the fact that getting out of this league is everybody's number-one priority," Watson admitted.

"It's a game we still want to win.

"We don't want to lose a game, we don't want this run to end - we don't know where it could take us.

"At the same time, it's a cup game, we want to be in the hat for the next round and we have to win the game to do that."

This is the firs t Cup game City will have contested against higher-tier opposition this season - away wins at Step 5 side Irlam and Step 3 outfit Buxton - but Watson was unwilling to be drawn on talk of favourites.

He said: "(Stockport) are the current champions of our league and they're playing in the league above us against a good standard of teams.

"They've brought three good players in from Salford. It will be very tough to work out what they're going to do - they've used three different systems in the last three games.

"I spent four hours yesterday watching three games of theirs.

"It will be about us in the system we know how to play and adapting to what comes.

"We're pleased with it being a home tie, that's safe to say.

"There will be a good crowd, and it's televised which proves we've been doing something right, both teams, because it's the one they've chosen to show.

"The lads have a really good platform to show the country what we've been doing all season.

"Everybody's looking forward to it."

A summer recruit from Blyth Spartans - where he was top scorer last season - the lively Maguire looked an exciting prospect in pre-season, but has featured in only the season-opening win at Altrincham so far for York, missing the last 14 matches with a knee injury. Griffiths, meanwhile, has been absent with a foot injury.

But both have been involved in training all week and are in the frame to make the squad for the weekend, further bolstering City's options following the return of captain Steve McNulty last week at AFC Telford United.

Watson said: "The obvious thing to do when people are coming back is to start them on the bench. If it's a striker, they're more likely to be changed than a right-back.

"I'd suggest that Dan will certainly be involved somewhere along the line.

"The good thing about (Griffiths' and Maguire's) injuries is that none of the injuries are liable to occur again. They were both minor surgeries where the problem was fixed.

"I would have no problems involving them at the weekend."

Whoever plays, though, will be under no illusions of Watson's - and York fans' - aspirations for the tie.

"It's a different scenario to the league," he said.

"Certain league games where things haven't been going well you say to yourself, 'Alright, we won't concede', you come out with something and you take it to the next game, arguably like Guiseley away.

"It was a really tough game and we were happy with the point.

"But this isn't one of those. This is all about getting into the hat for Monday.

"It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have it go to a replay but in an ideal world, we'll have it done and dusted on Saturday."