I KNOW David Flitcroft has spoken about keeping his emotions in check on his return to Spotland, but his ties with Rochdale should not be a factor on Sunday.

This is the second round of the FA Cup – the big one for lower league sides, with the prize a potential glamour tie against a big Premier League club.

The game is all about the players and what they do on the day.

All they will want to do is get the win for the 1,500-plus fans who make the short trip to Dale, then wait and see who they get in the draw.

I have affiliations with both clubs and will be covering the game as a pundit for Radio Manchester.

My happiest memories during my time as assistant to Paul Simpson at Spotland were in the FA Cup.

We made it to the fifth round, beating Preston and Coventry on the way before losing to Wolves live on TV.

Despite that, I know which team I will be rooting for on the day and I am really looking forward to what I hope will be a feisty local derby.

The two teams have so far cancelled each other out in their meetings under Flicker and Keith Hill, but with so much at stake I hope the players get stuck in and really go for it.

For Bury, it is also a chance to put down a marker in front of the TV cameras.

There has been a real buzz around the club over the past few seasons, following their promotion, moving into Carrington and some of their high-profile signings.

So I think a lot of people outside the town will be interested to see what they are all about and I hope they can put on a show.

It is also an opportunity to put the last two defeats, against Scunthorpe and Millwall, behind them.

There has been a bit of disruption in the side, following injuries to key players like Rob Lainton, as well as the comings and goings in the loan window.

The latest arrival, Joe Dodoo, will not be eligible for the cup game, but I don’t see that as such a bad thing.

It gives the senior players the chance to step up to the mark and I think this is a game where Bury will need their most experienced pros to shine.

If they do that, then I see no reason why they can’t reproduce the kind of form that saw them breeze past Wigan in the last round.

l Don’t miss Jamie Hoyland’s Marvellous People on Radio Lancashire between 1-2pm on Saturday.