The ex Stoke player formed an impressive partnership with club captain Steve Walters during Saturday's win at Welling.

And it has convinced manager Mark Gardiner that, barring an injury in training, the duo will play together on Saturday.

He said: "Mark and Steve gelled very well on Saturday. It was probably the most pleasing aspect of the performance for me. Mark is a quality player and if he can play as he did against Welling regularly he's got a good chance of staying in the side."

He added: "If those two are on top form it will take a very good display to beat us on Saturday."

As for Devlin, he is just savouring the opportunity to play again: "I don't mind where I play as long as I get a game. But the centre of midfield is my favourite position and I thought Steve and I did okay at Welling."

But he is aware of the quality players waiting in the wings. Although Val Owen suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which kept him out for a month at the start of the season last week at Runcorn, Jamie Webster is fit and ready to enter the fray.

"We have got some good players on the sidelines which puts pressure on the people in the side," added Devlin.

Those were sentiments echoed by Gardiner: "As soon as anybody's performance dips I will have no qualms about replacing them."

As for Val Owen, he is frustrated at being ruled out at a crucial stage of the campaign: "The injury is in the same place as the one earlier in the season, but I think it is much worse. I won't know for sure until the swelling has gone down and a specialist can have a look.

"I know when I do come back I will have to fight for my place in the team. But I am willing to do that and I have enough confidence in my own ability."

The only other player ruled out for Saturday is Chris Duffy, who is suspended.

Victory will mean a place in the last eight.

"It will be easy to motivate the players. Getting to Wembley is very special, as all the players who have been there before will know. That is incentive enough," added Gardiner.

As for Devlin, he concluded: "A visit to Wembley would be the perfect end to a nightmare season for me."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.