BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle is excited to see his side go toe-to-toe with Manchester United as they eye an FA Cup giant-killing.

Coyle admits Rovers will need to perform to their maximum in front of an expected 24,000 crowd if they’re to be in with a chance of knocking out the holders in the fifth round tie at Ewood Park tomorrow (4.15pm).

Rovers will be without eight first-team players for the game, but despite being depleted in numbers, Coyle is relishing the clash.

And he’s hoping his team can hold their side of the bargain when it comes to the ingredients of causing a cup upset.

“Let’s be honest, if we’re at our maximum, and Manchester United are at their maximum, then ordinarily you would think they would have enough quality to go on and win the game,” Coyle said.

“But if we’re at our best, and they’re slightly off, then that’s when cup shocks are created.

“That’s how it’s happened over time, and there have already been some giant-killings this year, and that’s what we have to try and do on Sunday.”

United boss Jose Mourinho is likely to make alterations to his side but Coyle knows Rovers will still come up against an opposition packed with internationals.

“They might make changes but even if they do they will be of such a high calibre that regardless of who plays, this is going to be a really tough task,” added the Ewood boss.

“But it’s one that the players, the young ones in particular, are really looking forward to and it’s a chance to stand toe-to-toe and be a real learning curve.

“It’s a game that we’re really looking forward to.”

And despite the competition coming in for criticism from some quarters, the Rovers boss says the FA Cup still retains it’s magic.

“I think it’s the best national cup competition in world football and we have a chance to go through to the last eight,” he added.

“To do that we have to beat one of, if not the, biggest club in world football in Manchester United.

“For me this has always been a magical competition.

“The FA Cup has the freshness of playing in what is a fantastic competition and the opportunity to try and progress.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved in cup runs as a player and as a manager and we want to do that again.

“The most important thing is that we play to our maximum and be the very best we can.”

Rovers and United were rivals for large parts of their Premier League clashes but this will be their first meeting since April 2012.

And despite languishing in the Championship relegation zone, Coyle says the club has to maintain the ambition to get back to the top flight.

“I think that’s why we have to understand (the Premier League) is the level we want to aspire to get to,” he added.

“For that to happen, a number of things need to fruition, the first of those this year is to get that stability and then at the right time get that investment and look to kick the club back to where we all want it to be.”