SEVENTEEN years ago, Mark Lawrenson was part of the Liverpool side that won 2-1 at Watford in an FA Cup quarter-final.

This Sunday, he will be on BBC duty at Vicarage Road as the Clarets look for similar success against the Hornets, and he admitted: "It really is too close to call."

The former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star is himself an FA Cup winner and he is looking forward to seeing which Nationwide League side will make it to the last four.

"This is the romantic side of the Cup," he said. "We are guaranteed at least one first division side in the semis and I think that is great.

"Financially it is vital for both teams and either of them could easily go through. Take Portsmouth and Leicester out of the equation and there are 12 or 14 sides in the first division that are pretty much the same - and Burnley and Watford are two of those."

Lawrenson watched Burnley beat Fulham at Turf Moor and smiled: "I loved Tigana complaining that Burnley's players were trying to break Boa Morte. He clearly does not know what life is like outside the Premiership.

"The one thing you are guaranteed on Sunday is that the players will give Stan absolutely everything. I am not surprised he played his strongest team at Millwall, he will have been saying do the business for me and you will play at the weekend."