DARE to dream – that is the phrase which has been whispered quietly with reference to Petersfield Town’s FA Cup run.

The club has never reached the second qualifying round stage of the competition before but at 3pm on Saturday afternoon when the Rams take on Cirencester Town, they will stand just 270 minutes away from the first round proper and potential ties against Football League sides.

There is a lot of football to be played before that dream can become a reality but it highlights how high the stakes start to get in the world’s most famous cup competition from this stage on.

The dream draw in the first round proper for Petersfield would be a tie at Portsmouth. The revenue from a big crowd and any TV and radio coverage would swamp the club coffers with extra funds.

The third qualifying round stage would give Petersfield a tie against any side from the National League South level down, with the National League clubs – and the potential to draw Aldershot Town – coming into the competition in the fourth qualifying round. If they reach the first round proper, the prize money earned from Saturday and the following two qualifying rounds would be £24,500.