"TO get to the third round would probably be my biggest FA Cup achievement."

So said York City manager Steve Watson ahead of Sunday's first round proper tie at Bootham Crescent with Altrincham.

The Minstermen's National League North campaign, Watson also said, is the priority, but he insisted York will still be going all out to write their names alongside other successful City teams in the annals of the Cup.

"The plan is to add to that history," he said.

"I'm a bit of a football traditionalist. I like the FA Cup, it's what you'd consider the quintessential English knockout tournament.

"It's the one you all wait to watch in June.

"I remember some great Cup finals, I remember Everton Liverpool, Man United Everton.

"I haven't got many fantastic memories as a player so I'm hoping my memories as a manager can be better than that.

"I got to two finals and haven't won a trophy.

"I'm not saying I'm going to win the FA Cup but to get to the third round would probably be my biggest FA Cup achievement."

To get to this stage, an outstanding York were backed by a vocal Bootham Crescent on their way to dispatching National League outfit Stockport County 2-0 in the fourth qualifying round.

Watson added: "It's another big FA Cup round game after this and in an ideal world, we'll take it into January.

"Everybody from our level, that's those teams' realistic dream. To go any further than that, they don't think about.

"It's our dream, as with everybody else, to try and get into a third-round tie.

"We're two games away from that and for this one, being at home will certainly give us an edge because of the last FA Cup game and the atmosphere.

"Everybody understands we want a good cup run and we want to stay in the Cup as long as possible.

"It's certainly a winnable tie. We prioritise the league - and I think the supporters do as well - but we'll be giving everything we can to stay in the Cup.

"We've got lads who are football fans - there's Geordies, Sunderland fans, Middlesbrough fans and Leeds fans - and it gives these lads the chance to draw the team they idolise.

"It's huge for the players. As management, me and Micky just have to prepare them to win. The result will take care of itself.

"I'd be more disappointed if we lost next week as opposed to week, but the plan is to do neither.

"We have to keep this mentality and this run going. We don't know where or how far it can take us and nobody wants to think about it ending."

York won 3-1 at Altrincham on the opening day of the National League North season, which has panned out disappointingly thus far for the Robins. Having finished last term fifth, Alty currently reside in 18th place without an away league win to their name.

They have, however, been drawn away from home in each of the last four Cup rounds. They took Chester to a replay at Moss Lane, but beat Northern Premier League side Halesowen Town and NLN outfit Southport at the first time of asking.

But Alty's lowly position does not matter to Watson, who says York will go in with the same big-game mentality that saw them through the last round.

"We did really well against Stockport," he said. "All the big games, the lads have stepped up. We came up against teams that were second, twice, against King's Lynn and Chester and the lads stepped up.

"That's the mentality we're going into Sunday with.

"You can't really look at league positions," he added. "Certainly when you're in and around the top of the table, you're there to be shot at.

"Coming to Bootham, it's a good old-fashioned ground with lots of history and teams want to be the ones to take this run away from us, so league positions don't come into it with us."

Watson reported that, as of Friday, the whole squad was fit, while the extra day's rest has allowed players like the returning Dan Maguire and Andy Bond - who had a slight groin issue - to get back in contention.

Highlights from the game will be available on the BBC red button.