"I'm hoping" - Paul Heckingbottom sends Preston North End plea to supporters ahead of Burnley | OneFootball

The Preston North End manager is hoping for a huge atmosphere ahead of their important FA Cup clash.

Preston North End have the opportunity to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1966, and Paul Heckingbottom feels that their fans will play a big part in helping them get there.

The two-time winners take on Lancashire rivals Burnley this Saturday lunchtime, confirming that a Championship side will progress through to the last eight of the competition.

Burnley are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons, but will have to travel to a side who they are yet to score against in two league meetings this season - with both battles ending 0-0.

It'll be a game of fine margins, and Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom feels that the home support inside Deepdale can swing things in their favour.

Heckingbottom delighted at another home tie

After brushing past two League One sides at Deepdale in the last two rounds, Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom was thrilled to be drawn at home again.

He hopes that their fans can bring the noise. The Lancashire Post reported that Heckingbottom said in his pre-match press conference: "I'm hoping this is our best atmosphere of the season. I'm expecting that and wanting it to be that.

"I want the fans to get as excited about the FA Cup as I do because who knows what's next, you know? We need their help to get past one of the top teams in our league.

"That's what the FA Cup is for me...you could potentially get something that's your only chance this season [...] so we want the fans to be a part of that. We need them to be a part of it to give us the best chance of progressing.

"We've guaranteed ourselves 50-odd games this season already [and] we want it to be more and we want that to be regular every season, so we want to be used to how you manage players through those times.

"How many possible FA Cup runs do you potentially have? We want it to be as far as we can and the fact that the last time we were in a quarter-final was in the 1960s, let's be a part of a new FA Cup run with this group of players and this set of fans. So yeah, they're important games definitely."

Fans will give Preston hope against strong Burnley side

Despite Burnley having to split their focus between their promotion bid and this FA Cup fifth round tie, many feel that Scott Parker's side come into this one with the momentum which Preston lack.

Saturday's clash marks just two weeks since the two Lancashire sides locked horns in league action. Nothing separated the two sides at Deepdale then, but Burnley returned to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, whereas Preston have picked up just one point in their two games since.

Additionally, Burnley knocked out Premier League strugglers Southampton in the last round away from home, so will be aiming to ride the wave of cup momentum into Saturday's tie.

Preston have tasted defeat just three times at Deepdale in all competitions this season - against Bristol City, Sheffield United and Arsenal, the latter in the EFL Cup.

Paul Heckingbottom will be looking for a trademark home performance to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in 59 years.