THE MAGIC of the FA Cup still gives Wrexham boss Denis Smith a buzz.

The Reds manager was putting football first today as his side's crucial FA Cup first round trip to non-leaguers Hayes eclipses the club's off-the-field problems.

"I love the FA Cup," said Smith. "If you can't get excited about the FA Cup then you shouldn't be in the game. Although I'd much prefer to be playing in round three than round one."

Hayes are out to cause a shock tomorrow at their tiny Church Road ground and although Smith admits to it being a potential 'banana skin' of a tie, he knows that if Wrexham are at their best, they'll come through.

"We have to give them total respect. They'll be up for it and so will we."

It wouldn't be Wrexham if there wasn't another injury to add to the list.

Reserve keeper Danny Evans is out with an ear infection and that means a call up for a 17-year-old youth keeper, nick-named Carrots - because of his bright red hair.

"Carrots - or Michael Jones - is 17, a Liverpudlian and he's six foot three plus and he's in the squad.

"We've got high hopes of him but he's been unlucky this season. He broke his nose and he's been struggling with a groin and thigh injury of late.

"But I saw him training yesterday and I thought thank God for that!"

Wrexham's number one Matt Baker meanwhile knows how dangerous underdogs can be in the FA Cup.

Baker was in the Hereford United team that beat Wrexham 1-0 three seasons ago.

Smith had only been in the Racecourse hotseat a month when the Conference outfit dumped Wrexham out at Edgar Street.

Wrexham run riot in front of the BBC cameras that day but Baker performed heroics and was voted man of the match.

Baker tomorrow finds himself in a team that is expected to win and he wants to make sure that happens.

"I think being in a possible giant-killing role you have nothing to lose," said Baker. "Nothing is expected of you, there's no fear and you're looking to cause an upset.

"When the role is reversed, everything is different. You are expected to win, have everything to lose and there's pressure on you.

"It's the beauty of the FA Cup and it's a special competition. There's no feeling to describe it and you always get a good atmosphere."

But Baker knows Wrexham can not take Hayes lightly and Willy Wordsworth's side will be out to make a name for themselves.

Baker said: "It's always difficult whatever non-league club you go to. Teams getting steam-rolled four or five nil does not happen as much.

"It will be a tough game and I bet not too many of our team will have been to Hayes before! If we go there with the right attitude we should be okay. We have got to impose ourselves."

Wrexham have been knocked out of the first round for the last four seasons and have not won in the competition this Millennium.

One of the four defeats was at the hands of Hereford and Baker was in superb form that day.

"I was named man of the match but after getting an early goal we really rode our luck," added Baker.

"Wrexham probably had more shots that day than they would in a month.

"Tomorrow we need to be the one's who get an early goal because the longer it stays 0-0, they will grow in confidence and sense that they can cause an upset. We don't want that to happen."

Wrexham (from): Baker, Spender, Roberts, Lawrence, Pejic, Holt, Ferguson, Crowell, Llewellyn, Armstrong, Sam, Smith, Michael Jones, Mark Jones, Mackin, Ugarte.