CARETAKER boss Mick Tait is expecting anything but an easy ride when Conference side Stevenage Borough are the visitors to Feethams on Saturday.

Stevenage, who famously took Kenny Dalglish's Newcastle to a fourth round FA Cup replay in 1998, return to the North-East at the weekend with a money-spinning place in the third round at stake - £30,000 to be precise.

"We're playing for what could be a big prize if we make it into the third round," said Tait.

"It's going to be as hard a game as we've had for a long time. They're going to come here and have a go because the same prize is at stake for them too."

Stevenage narrowly beat Hastings in the first round and have not won in their last eight league outings.

However, Tait warned: "They will be a very hard side to beat and we've got to make sure we match whatever they do.

"If we do that then we have enough ability to beat them."

Boro boss Wayne Turner will know exactly what to expect from in-form Quakers, having studied them on video.

"We'll have a report of Darlington today and I have a video of them from last week, so we will be prepared as always," said Turner.

"If we go up there and play with a free spirit, like we have in the cup games, we can cause them a problem."

Stevenage earned a point at Scarborough at the weekend and Turner warned: "They won't fancy playing against us if they watched us on Saturday."

Saturday's game has been brought forward to 2pm at the request of the BBC, who will show highlights on Match of the Day.

Tait, meanwhile, believes midfielder Ashley Nicholls deserves more credit than he's getting after Saturday's win over Southend.

"The lad never stops running," said Tait. "I know Clark Keltie is getting all the plaudits at the minute but Ashley covers every quarter of the pitch.

"He gets from box to box, has a great engine and he deserves his rewards. We just let him get on with his job and he's doing it very well."

* Brian Talbot of Rushden and Diamonds yesterday won the Division Three manager of the month award.

* Philippe Troussier yesterday said he had been approached by the Republic of Ireland to succeed Mick McCarthy as coach.

But the Frenchman - who led Japan at the World Cup finals - insisted he will not rush into making a decision.

''I have been approached by five or six national teams and Ireland is one of them,'' Troussier told BBC Sport Online.''

Troussier recently had surgery for a knee problem and is currently receiving physiotherapy in Biarritz, France.

''Right now, I want to focus on my rehabilitation and forget about football for now,'' Troussier said.

''After Japan, I think I should be careful about selecting the next team that I manage.

''When I finish my treatment in France, I will go back to my house in Morocco and should come to a decision in January.''

Read more about the Quakers here.