The Rec hosts an FA Cup tie as the home of a Football League club for the first time in just shy of 17 years on Saturday.

That the old Aldershot lost 1-0 to Enfield of the Isthmian League back in November 1991 was indicative of a club in demise; Aldershot were in Division Four but, humiliating as it was, it was not really such a surprising 'giant-killing'.

But the season before did contain a little bit of FA Cup magic for The Shots and showed what the new club might achieve, should they see off Rotherham United in Saturday's First Round clash.

Back in season 1990-91, after beating first Tiverton Town and then Maidstone United at The Rec, Aldershot drew West Ham United in the Third Round, drawing 0-0 in a ‘home’ tie played at Upton Park, before losing 6-1 in the replay.

Granted, West Ham were in the second tier of English football that season but they went on to reach the semi-final, before losing to Nottingham Forest.

So, The Hammers were a pretty big scalp to hold to a draw and it is the prospect of repeating such a feat later in the competition this season that has manager Gary Waddock excited ahead of Saturday's game.

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday,” said Waddock. “And I know the players are too. If we can get past Rotherham and then maybe through the next round, then we may get picked out against one of the biggest clubs in the country.

“The FA Cup is great. You want to go as far as you can and try and get the chance to test yourself against teams from a higher level.”

Waddock got to do just that as a youngster, playing at the age of just 20 for Queens Park Rangers (from the old Division Two) in the FA Cup final itself, where they lost after a replay to Tottenham Hotspur in 1982.

But Waddock is acutely aware that Rotherham will be very tough opponents — almost, he believes, as tough a draw as The Shots could have had.

“You always want a home draw in the FA Cup,” said Waddock. “But I’m not sure we could have had harder opponents. Leeds United from League One, perhaps, but Rotherham are going very well in League Two and their cup form this season is excellent, one of the best in the country.”

Many teams from League One and Two might beg to differ with Waddock — Leicester City being the most obvious one — but he does have a point.

Rotherham knocked the very same Leicester team out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night, winning 2-0 at Don Valley Stadium, just a few weeks after dumping Leeds out of the competition, 4-2.

But it is in the League (Carling) Cup that Rotherham have really excelled, knocking out three Championship sides on their way to the last 16.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday were ousted on penalties, after being held to draws, while Southampton were brushed aside 3-1 in the last round.

That win set up a clash at Premier League Stoke City, this coming Tuesday evening.

Not that Waddock believes Mark Robins’ Millers will be distracted by their big Carling Cup clash.

“Saturday is the FA Cup,” said Waddock. “All players can get motivated for that and Rotherham are far too professional an outfit to be anything other than fully committed to our game.

“We’ve had them watched and they are a very good side. They have beaten five teams from higher leagues already this season and have done really well to overturn their points deduction in the league.

“That said, however, they will be thinking that we are a strong and formidable side too, with our home record.”

Rotherham began the season on -17 points but are already on nine, just a further nine shy of Aldershot.

Without their penalty for entering administration (Rotherham have had 37 points taken from them in little more than two years) The Millers would be in a play-off spot in League Two and seven places better off than Aldershot.

Their away record is good too, with three wins, three draws and just one defeat, at Chesterfield in September.

They have let in just five goals away from home in the league, with a solid defence built around two very experienced and uncompromising players at this level, Ian Sharps and Nick Fenton.

Andy Warrington, the former Doncaster Rovers player, who saved a penalty against Leicester in the week, is a steady goalkeeper.

Further forward The Millers are mobile, with leading goalscorer Reuben Reid, the youngster signed from Plymouth, especially dangerous.

Reid may, however, miss Saturday's match after sitting out the win over Leicester with a knee ligament problem.

In midfield, captain Pablo Mills pulls the strings and sprays the ball around, for the likes of Reid to use their pace.

Before that win over Leicester, however, Rotherham had gone two league games without a goal (albeit against league high-flyers Wycombe Wanderers and Darlington), so they are not exactly in their best form.

Nor is the club's FA Cup record good. They have been knocked out at the first hurdle (whether that be the First or Third Round) for the last six seasons, since they beat Premiership Southampton in a shock result in 2002.

Robins does have plenty of FA Cup pedigree, however, scoring the goal that many believe saved Sir Alec Ferguson’s job as manager at Manchester United in the Third Round against Nottingham Forest in 1990. He also scored the winner in the semi-final replay against Oldham Athletic that season, before United went on to win the Cup against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Aldershot’s unbeaten home record bodes well for the tie — but, should the match end all-square, The Shots’ disastrous away form would make The Millers strong favourites to go through, in a replay the midweek after next.

But, while Aldershot have this home match and a league match at The Rec to come against fellow League Two new boys, Exeter City, a week tomorrow, Waddock still feels that they can take lessons — and positives — from their away travails into the home matches.

“It’s nice to have a couple of home games after having so many away of late,” said Waddock. “We are decent at home. But, then again, Rotherham and Exeter will both be difficult opponents.

“We are still learning as a group after stepping up a level and obviously the away record is not good.

“But I feel we’ve done reasonably well away and not got points, while at home we have. I’m sure we will come through the away run and the whole group will be stronger for it.

“We have obviously spoken to the players about the away record and I think it must be a mental thing for some of them.

“We will get to the bottom of it as some players are performing better at home than they are away. It is difficult to work out, however, as football is the same home and away, 11 against 11, on a grass pitch. Perhaps we will have to tweak things a little away from home, in that we must be more disciplined.

“I felt on Saturday at Morecambe that we chased the game at 1-0 and lost shape a little. There was no need to do that. We must remember to remain calm and keep our discipline, to carry on playing as we started the game.”

With tomorrow’s match being a cup one, Aldershot must take heed of that advice, shoud they fall behind.

Anthony Charles is back from suspension and Anthony Straker fit after coming through the Morecambe game, so Waddock has decisons to make at the back. Charles will probably play at left back, with Rhys Day and Chris Blackburn staying together in the centre of defence. Day did not train earlier this week due to a sore groin but is expected to be fully fit.

“I’m beginning to get players back, which is a nice selection problem,” said Waddock.

The manager also has players, such as Ben Harding, who are beginning to look more at home against League Two opponents.

“Ben is a good player and is beginning to find his feet after adjusting to League football,” said Waddock, who may recall Lewis Chalmers alongside Harding.

Waddock also praised Danny Hylton, who was excellent for an hour at Morecambe. “Danny has done really, really well since he came into the team,” said Waddock.

“But we must be mindful of how young he is. At some stage he will need a rest.” If that is tomorrow, then Marvin Morgan may start up front instead, alongside John Grant, who has looked sharp of late but is still really struggling to score. Indeed, it is nearly nine months since Grant last scored a goal at The Rec.

One striker who has barely featured this season is Junior Mendes. With his contract up at the end of December, he has little time left to impress Waddock, who said that Mendes has struggled for full fitness this season.

"It's been very difficult for Junior," said Waddock. "It's been so stop start. Every time he's been close he's had a setback. I've spoken to him and he needs to have a longer period injury-free. It's frustrating as he's looked sharp whenever he's played for the reserves."

Last season in the FA Cup The Shots beat Crawley Town after a replay in the Fourth Qualifying Round, before losing 2-1 at Cambridge United in the First Round.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 3pm.