MARCUS Bignot hopes his Guiseley side has more than fun beside the seaside when they return to FA Cup action this weekend.

The Lions travel to the North East Lincolnshire coastline on Saturday to face Cleethorpes Town in the competition's third qualifying round.

A win on Saturday will put Guiseley only one step away from the cup's prestigious first round proper, where they could face teams from Leagues One or Two, on the weekend of November 10.

It will be a welcome break from Vanarama National League North action, though, after Guiseley crashed to a 4-2 defeat at York City last Saturday.

The disappointing defeat, their third reverse from their opening 11 games, ended Guiseley's fine nine-match unbeaten run and puts them 13th in the table.

Both Bignot and fellow joint-manager Russ O'Neill have been on scouting missions to watch Cleethorpes in the build-up to the weekend clash.

Bignot says he is under no illusions to the threat posed by the Evo-Stik League East Division outfit, following his time in charge of near neighbours Grimsby Town.

His side have already show their pedigree in the cup this year's competition, as a Kingsley James hat-trick in the previous round gave Guiseley a 4-0 victory over Staveley Miners' Welfare last month.

Bignot said: "Our FA Cup final would be a third round tie at one of the big six away from home, but that is many, many rounds away.

"The £15,000 to the winners of Saturday's match is a lot of money to both teams. We would be one step forwards if we win.

"I'm under no illusions that it will be a difficult cup tie for us. Cleethorpes got to the FA Vase final last year. They have a couple of former Grimsby Town players in their ranks, but if we are right, we should be OK.

"Our run of nine games unbeaten came in the midst of losing a lot of influential players. It's tested our recruitment and the resolve of the squad.

"The York result was disappointing. We were undone by the basics of football; we conceded off two corners and to a long ball down the middle.

"We had three clean sheets prior to that and I think it was just a blip. I have every confidence the boys will learn from that.

"It was good to score two goals away from home.

"It is a bit disappointing that we have to wait two weeks for our next league game after the York defeat, but that's how it is."