Marc Cable, the 27-year old captain of FA Cup minnows Lewes, is relishing Sunday's first round clash with Stoke City.

As the former captain of a Wimbledon youth team that played against the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes at Old Trafford, a young Marc Cable could have been forgiven for turning his nose up at the prospect of the visit to Britannia Stadium.

But after failing to make the grade as a professional with the Dons and a plethora of league clubs such as Fulham, Preston, Peterborough and Plymouth, the 27-year-old Lewes skipper is relishing the biggest game of his career.

The match will be special to the defender, not just because he will belatedly get a chance to pit his wits against professional opposition, but also because he was brought up in Lewes and is very passionate about his home team.

And while some of Jimmy Quinn's side will undoubtedly use the occasion to impress potential suitors, with a view to furthering their football careers, Cable's loyalty to the Rooks is unflinching.

"If I'd been that good someone would have signed me up when I was a youngster," he said. "I've played at a higher level and I am quite happy where I am.

"If I do move to a higher level I want it to be with Lewes.

"We'll put the cup money to good use. The club has a few debts we'd like to pay off. At the moment our ground is not up to scratch for promotion."

Since joining the club from Burgess Hill last year, Cable has been nothing sort of a revelation.

His presence at the centre of the Lewes rearguard last season helped steer the side to promotion to Ryman League Division Two and they won the Sussex Senior Cup.

But after reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in Lewes' 116-year history, this cup run comfortably eclipses those achievements.

The prospect of Lewes, the proverbial minnows, against high-flying Stoke of Division Two, who include Stanley Matthews among their alumni, has grabbed the attention not just of Sussex but of football fans throughout the whole country.

"It has been pretty hectic," said Cable. "I've done plenty of interviews with various media people and there's a tremendous buzz in the changing rooms.

"No one can stop talking about the game. It is unbelievable really, the attention we are getting round the town. You can't walk down the high street without stopping.

"It means a lot to everyone but being in Lewes all the time, it's astonishing the amount of people who want to talk to you. It's taking an hour to do about five minutes shopping.

"It is a very proud time for me and also for the whole team who are over the moon. For someone playing our level it's probably the best achievement we could have done. It's the highlight of our careers."

Nevertheless, Cable is brutally realistic about his side's chances of progressing in the competition.

He added: "You can't really see us coming away with anything. But as long as we come back with our pride intact then that's the main thing."