"We've got a real chance," says Shaymen boss on Saturday's FA Cup tie at Cheltenham

Halifax beat National League North side South Shields to reach the first round, and travel to League Two Cheltenham, who are fifth in the table, one point off an automatic promotion place.

The Shaymen come into the game on the back of a disappointing 4-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest under 21s in the National League Cup on Tuesday night, and McGrath hopes his team can put that result behind them.

"We've got to put Tuesday night to bed, that was like the 20 minutes against Barrow, which the boys did magnificently against Yeovil," he said.

"I think we've got a real chance. We've had them watched, we've had reports on them, and I think we've got a real chance."

When asked why he was confident of being able to cause an upset, McGrath said: "Our ability to be really high tempo and be really, really quick on transitions."

Even if they lose on Saturday, Town have guaranteed themselves £25,175 in competition prize money, but can pocket an additional £53,150 if they win this weekend.

But for McGrath, financial gains aren't the only motivator.

"As a manager, it allows me to pit myself against a League Two manager, it allows me to witness my players against League Two players," he said.

"It's a bump up that my players want to make, it's the place we want to take the football club, and it'll be a real good indication of where we sit with it.

"We said that Southend would be a good test for us, we said Barrow would be a good test for us, we said Yeovil would be a good test for us, and apart from that 20 minutes against Barrow, we came through those tests quite well.

"We got a good point away at Southend and beat Yeovil.

"The financial implications for the club are massive, not just the prize money but you can potentially get a big tie in the next round or you could get a decent draw and then suddenly the Prem boys are in and who knows?

"The FA Cup has looked after a lot of clubs in the lower leagues over the last few seasons.

"We're no different, we want to win on Saturday, not just because of finances but because we want to test ourselves against opposition higher up the pyramid."

McGrath says the gap between National League and League Two is far from insurmountable.

"If you look at the mid-section and down in League Two, and then mid-section and up in the National League, I think there's some really good clubs in our division, some really good clubs in League Two," he said.

"They've got some really good game-changers, so have we.

"We'll aim to put our best foot forward. Cheltenham will want to put their best foot forward, let's see who wins."

McGrath was knocked out of the FA Cup by Cheltenham last season with Buxton, but says things can be different this time round.

"We went there last year and we were 2-1 up at half-time, playing with a real intensity," he said.

"We just came off that in the second-half and ended up conceding five second-half goals.

"I believe this squad is better equipped.

"It's going to take everybody to be at their best possible version of themselves, but that's not to say I won't ask for that best version of themselves against Kidderminster, against Fylde, against Yeovil.

"So the same version of the player I ask for in the FA Cup against Cheltenham is no different to what I ask for against Yeovil Town.

"I believe we've got the opportunity and the players to go and cause a real upset."

McGrath says defender Shaun Hobson will be fit for the game after he was rested in midweek due to slight niggle in his knee.

Loanee Lucas Houghton is eligible for Saturday's game, while captain Cody Johnson's one-game suspension for picking up five bookings means he will miss Town's next league game at Kidderminster rather than Saturday's cup tie.