ARLEN BIRCH wants to muscle in on another giant-killing act with non-league minnows Chorley but he’s keeping his fingers crossed Wolves’ man-mountain Adama Traore stays on the right wing.

The Wrexham-born wing-back has been a key player in Chorley’s brilliant FA Cup run that includes wins over York City, Wigan Athletic, Peterborough and Wayne Rooney’s Derby County as well as a much-welcome bye into the first round.

Now Premier League Wolves, including Mr Muscle himself Traore, stand in the way of The Magpies making all the headlines once again. Traore, rumoured to be a transfer target for Liverpool, is expected to star tonight.

The two sides go head to head in front of the television cameras at Victory Park tonight and Birch, a former pupil at Overton St Mary’s, can’t wait.

“It’s a massive match and we’re under no illusions about what we’re up against it,” said Birch. “They’re Premier League, a side full on internationals and they’ve got Traore.

“I’ve got him in my FIFA team and I just hope he stays on the other wing and doesn’t swap over to my side. His pace is frightening.”

But a trip to Chorley, on a rain-soaked pitch that will be nothing like Molineux, could be a daunting prospect for a Wolves side who are not enjoying the best of seasons.

“Coming to our place, on our pitch, will be a bit of a leveller,” added Birch, who joined Chorley from Telford after making a name for himself in non-league football with AFC Fylde.

“The changing rooms won’t be what they’re used to either so we’ve got to use all these things to our advantage.

“And we are playing well. The victories we’ve had in our run haven’t been flukes. We’ve earned them all.

“I’d say apart from the first 20 minutes at Wigan, where we were really under the cosh, we’ve been on top. We’ve beaten some good sides too. York City, Wigan and Peterborough away and then beating Derby in the last round.

“I think our run in the cup has helped our league form too.

“We had a slow start but had lot of new lads come in so it takes time but we’re playing well and are determined to give it our all tonight.”

Birch isn’t the only Wrexham link in the Chorley camp where former Reds striker Andy Preece is Director of Football.

And Birch, now 24, admits he was so close to signing for Wrexham after leaving Fylde.

“I was really close to signing for Wrexham,” said Birch. “I met the manager at the time, Bryan Hughes, and was going to sign but it didn’t happen in the end.

“It would have been good to play for my home-town club. It’s a massive club and it looks as if things are going to get exciting down there with the takeover.”

Chorley boss Jamie Vermiglio hopes the club’s historic FA Cup win against Wolves 35 years ago can inspire his players.

The Lancashire part-timers recorded one of their finest moments back in November 1986 when they famously beat Wolves after two replays in the first round. “If the players can be motivated even more we’re going to try it by utilising the spirit of ’86 and what that team did,” Vermiglio said.

“That’s what they’ve got to aim for. The game in ’86 brings an extra bit of spice, mainly because those people are still here.

We’re fortunate enough to have people like Ken Wright, chairman of our club, who was the manager on that day. So for him, this is unbelievable to be reliving those memories.”