Steve Bruce is prioritising the league but says 'there's nothing like a cup run'
Steve Bruce is prioritising promotion from the Sky Bet Championship but says victory in his side's FA Cup replay against Arsenal would be a huge boost.
The two sides meet in the competition for the fourth time in three years on Tuesday, Arsenal having come from 2-0 down early in the 2014 final to win 3-2 in extra time and then eliminated Bruce's men in last year's third round.
A goalless draw on February 20 led to a replay just four days ahead of Saturday's quarter-final for the winners.
"There's nothing like a cup run," said Bruce. "We've got Watford in a quarter-final here on Saturday if we get through.
"It can only be a good thing. The league is our priority, there's no question about that, but let's go and enjoy the cup tie and make a real good fist of it."
Bruce has a fully-fit squad to choose from and will again rotate for the game, after back-up goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic was the star of the original tie.
"We're in a very good position where I've got 21 outfield players and every one of them is fit, which is going to help us over the next eight to 10 weeks," he said.
"Some of the squad are desperate to play. People like (Shaun) Maloney and Nick Powell in particular. It can only do them good, so in that respect we will be making changes."
For Arsenal, the suspended Francis Coquelin joins Jack Wilshere (leg), Tomas Rosicky (thigh), Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (both knee), Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny (both calf) on the sidelines.
Manager Arsene Wenger, like Bruce, will make widespread changes.
"Look, we had no choice because the next round in the FA Cup is next Saturday," he said of the replay being arranged for Tuesday.
"So we had to fit it in somewhere. Ideally it's not the best position for us but I couldn't see any other solution.
"I will have to (make changes) but I'm not so much concerned about replacing one player with another one. It's more that I have to rotate a little bit and keep the right balance in the team."
Arsenal have fallen eight points behind surprise Premier League leaders Leicester after a three-match winless run.
That has seen pressure once again surround Wenger - which Bruce labelled "appalling" - but the Frenchman is staying calm.
"I have always the same pressure, which is the same pressure I apply to myself," he said.
"It is the same. After that, people talk and you have more people talking than 20 years ago and more opinions. That doesn't change the pressure. The real pressure comes from your desire to win the next game and that is the only one that matters really.
"I try to do my best and leave this club in the best shape so the guy coming after me will have good potential to work with."
Source: PAR
