Shrewsbury Town boss Sam Ricketts hoping for a fan-tastic day

A sell-out crowd will cram into Montgomery Waters Meadow for the 3pm kick-off where Town have a shot at making the fifth round for just the third time in 35 years.

Premier League Wolves, ranked 54 places higher in the pyramid, stand in the way of Salop, who are 18th in League One.

But Ricketts’ men turned the tables on Championship Stoke in the last round and the boss insists the blue and amber army of just over 8,000 will be crucial in roaring their side over the line.

“It’s a huge factor – a huge factor,” said former Wolves player Ricketts.

“If we can get a tempo to the game, an energy to it that will build with the fans and they’ll create their own tempo then as well.

“It keeps the players driving on. We have to get the atmosphere where it’s a little bit hostile, we’re chasing, harrying, pressing, tackling.

“We have to be as aggressive as we can, trying to win the ball back at all times.

“I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere and hopefully we can put a performance in that, first and foremost everyone can be proud of, and that it’s enough to see us in the hat for the next round.”

Town go into the local clash without midfielder Dave Edwards (groin) who misses out against his former side.

Shaun Whalley, who has been injured since October, played 30 minutes in the Central League Cup on Tuesday and could return.

Ricketts feels Town could use the Meadow surface to their advantage. “I wouldn’t say it’s a leveller but after I ploughed it yesterday it might be!” the boss joked.

“It’s not going to help them, obviously, because they’re used to playing on pristine pitches. But if you’re a good player you can play on anything. It’s something they’re not used to, we’re a bit more used to it.

“So it can be an advantage for us but it’s not terrible – it’s just not the level that they are used to.”