The reigning Northern Inland Premier League champions take on grand final opponents last year South Armidale in Armidale for a spot in the regional zone round.

The only first round victors outside of Armidale they were triumphant by seven goals over East Armidale last week, and are in better shape, coach Tim Coates believes, than at this stage of the competition last year.

Then they were “unglued” by North Armidale, who will play Demon Knights for the other of Northern Inland’s two allotted spots in the next round.

The Scorpions scraped through to the second round on penalties over North Companions but Coates certainly isn’t discounting them.

“This will be a good test,” Coates said.

“South Armidale are rebuilding with a lot of fitter, younger players so it appears.”

He said they don’t really need to do anything differently.

“We don’t need to change too much or do anything better,” he said.

It’s just a matter of making the most of their opportunities. 

“We’ve got some pace outwide, experience in the middle of the park and guys up front that can score some goals,” Coates said.

He has had to make a couple of changes, with Glen McKnight and James Bailey both away but he doesn’t expect them to have too much of an effect. The two players replacing them were part of last years grand final winning side.

New South Armidale Eamon Hynes knows the challenge his side faces and said to get the result would be a big boost to their confidence.

That said, he isn’t getting too carried away and believes the FFA Cup is an opportunity to prepare his side before the Premier League season commences. 

"From my perspective I am looking at performance, we are still re-building a team,” he said.

"From last year we have a lot of new players so we are trying to get them in and playing how I want them to play.” 

They will be the second game of a double header at Consett Davis with Norths and DK playing at 12.30pm.