ALTRINCHAM are heading for national television exposure this weekend after the BBC selected their Emirates FA Cup clash with Halesowen Town as the tie of the third qualifying round.

Phil Parkinson's side booked themselves a trip to the West Midlands with a stirring 1-0 replay win against Chester, and after carefully weighing up the options for live coverage, BBC bosses came down in favour of famed cup fighters Alty.

The Robins' fabled knockout exploits have been captured on camera down the years, but there will be a role reversal when the BBC set up camp at The Grove on Saturday.

Giantkilling has become a byword for Alty in the FA Cup, but the boot will be on the other foot when Halesowen, from the BetVictor Southern League Division One Central, set their sights on claiming the prized scalp of one of non-league football's most famous names.

Kick off has been brought forward from 3pm to 12.30pm and there are expected to be four cameras being operated by the BBC, who are showing the tie live on the red button and online.

While Alty will start as favourites, they will be wary of Halesowen's threat after the Yeltz steamrollered Lichfield 7-1 in the first qualifying round and followed up with a 4-1 win against Stratford Town in the last round.

After Saturday’s game against Gateshead was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Alty boss Parkinson reflected on the loss of on-loan winger Yusifu Ceesay to a hamstring injury and the recent acquisition of Alvechurch striker Lewis Archer, who is cup-tied after already playing in the competition this season.

"It could well be early November before Yusifu is back, and that is massively disappointing," Parkinson said.

"But Lewis looks a really exciting proposition.

"He can play anywhere across the front four, but I particularly like him out wide.

"He wants to beat players, and if he has open space in front of him, I don’t think anyone in this league will be able to stop him.

"It’s just whether we can get the quality out of him, in terms of an end-product.

"If we can, he won’t be here very long."