PADRAIG Amond has helped Newport County AFC enjoy some magical moments in the FA Cup and the striker believes Salford's bid to create a legacy in the famous competition will be inspired by their famous owners.

The League Two rivals clash at Rodney Parade this afternoon (kick-off 1pm) with the winners progressing to the third round, hoping to draw a Premier League big gun.

That would be an opportunity for another chapter in County's love affair with the FA Cup after wins against Leicester, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Blackburn, a draw with Spurs and then Wembley replay and a tussle with the stars of Manchester City.

Amond has been a leading figure in those exploits, scoring against Tottenham, the Foxes, Boro, Pep Guardiola's superstars.

County have been spoilt in the competition in recent years and the Irish forward believes today's opponents will want to follow in their footsteps, aided by some of English football's biggest names.

Former Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Phil Neville are part owners of the Ammies.

South Wales Argus:

"Everybody is captivated by what Salford are doing because of their owners," said Amond. "Growing up watching the FA Cup, those owners had a massive history with it and are some of the most successful players to every play in the competition.

"For Salford, they want to create their own little bit of history and it's a young Football League club, so getting into the first and second rounds of the FA Cup is new to them.

"They have a great opportunity to create their own legacy in the competition. They will be concentrating on the league as well, but those owners are around their training ground.

"The players will be tapping into their thoughts and memories of the FA Cup and that will spur them on."

Salford head to Rodney Parade with a strong squad now guided by Richie Wellens, who has returned to League Two after guiding Swindon to promotion last season.

Exiles boss Michael Flynn has called on his side to show more of a killer touch in front of goal and that responsibility no longer falls just to Amond and his fellow forwards.

South Wales Argus:

"The big thing this year is that chances are being created for everybody," said the striker, who has won County's golden boot for the last three seasons.

"We have centre-halves breaking into the box when in previous seasons we would never have had that.

"In the last round against Leyton Orient, Ashley Baker could have had a hat-trick from right wing-back then against Port Vale Liam Shephard had a couple of chances as well. I joked that I want to play right wing-back because that's where most chances are coming!

"It shows we are creating the chances and that shows we are playing well, we just have to kill games off. When it does click it's going to be very interested."

If it's County that progress then they will add another fixture – one that prompts the rearrangement of the January trip to Cheltenham – to an already manic fixture list.

South Wales Argus:

The Exiles have 10 fixtures in the next 36 days, a schedule that will test the promotion credentials of the League Two leaders.

"We might be close to December but we are only 13 games into the league," said Amond. "It's still quite early and usually by this stage you've played four or five games more.

"It is a little bit different but we have a great opportunity this year and unlike previous seasons we do have depth in the squad.

"We are possibly better equipped for a cup run that previous years. We are just hoping that we can continue the good form in the league after concentrating on the cup this weekend.

"It's going to be a tough month and if we come out of it still in the position we are in then teams will really be looking at us as a scalp. We are in a really good position but this month is key."