Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South side Slimbridge are the visitors to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium this evening in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup quarter-finals (kick-off: 7.45pm).
An opportunity to progress to the semi-finals of a competition the Robins last won in 2007 is at stake.
League Two foes Forest Green have already reached the final four, while Bristol City, Gloucester City, Cinderford and Bristol Rovers have a chance to join either of tonight’s two teams at the next stage.
A number of first team players will be involved in order to gain extra match minutes. There will also be a number of the club’s under-18s scholars involved too.
Tickets
Admission is via the turnstile on the Autovillage Stand side of the stadium. Only the Autovillage Stand and Paddock will be open.
Prices are set at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions.
The bar will be open and there will be catering facilities open too for fans wanting to purchase food.
Opposition
The Swans are currently 17th in the Southern League Division One South. They sit six points above the drop zone having accumulated 19 points from 24 games. It is their fourth season at Southern League level after gaining promotion from the Western Premier at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
Operating on one of the smallest budgets in their division, they have continuously punched above their weight at that level. The Thornhill Park outfit are managed by former Frampton United boss Lee Driver-Dickerson, while former Robins Academy coach Dave Strain is his assistant.
Former Shortwood United attacker Will Hawes will pose an attacking threat this evening, while young forward Ewen Dunbar also provides pace in their attacking set-up.
The reliable Dean Turner provides steel to their midfield and he may be joined in the centre of the pitch by ex-Robins academy graduate Sam Mendes.
Defensively ex-Brimscombe & Thrupp man Christien Turner has been a regular feature for the Swans this season, though one of his central defensive partners Korey Pring, brother of current Robins loanee Cameron, is likely to miss the game through injury.
Ioan Richards, who is on loan with the Swans from the under-18s here at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium will play for tonight's opposition. Fellow loanee Archie Brennan will meanwhile revert to being in the Cheltenham squad for the game.
How we got here
Not long after Michael Duff was appointed as manager, a strong squad overcame Slimbridge’s league counterparts Mangotsfield United to see the club through to tonight’s quarter-final contest.
A 6-0 win over the Bristol side had seen Cheltenham lead by three goals at the break. Sam Jones scored the first, Liam McAlinden the second and a third came through Kelsey Mooney.
After half time the Robins fourth came via former Shrewsbury loanee Jones, while Conor Thomas made it 5-0 with a penalty. Mooney grabbed a brace to seal the win.
Previous meeting
It was in the Senior Cup that the Robins and Swans last came head-to-head. During the club’s National League title winning 2015-16 season a youthful Cheltenham side made the journey down the M5 and went out of the competition to a 2-0 defeat.
Goals either side of half time from Paul Fahy and Sean Lawson settled the contest. Matt Bower was the only player involved that night still at the club, while Sam Mendes, now of Slimbridge, played 90 minutes for the Robins.
Read the report from that evening’s meeting here.
Coverage
Match updates will be available throughout the night on Twitter. Check out @CTFCofficial for team news and the latest throughout the 90 minutes. Score updates will also be available on Facebook.
After the game you can visit the club website to check out a match report and reaction to the result.