- Leeds have drawn back-to-back games since the turn of the year
- Harrogate ended a winless run with a 2-0 success at Barrow
- Recommended bet: Leeds United To Win Both Halves - No

There are 69 places between Leeds and near neighbours Harrogate Town in the football pyramid, but the League Two side will be hoping the magic of the FA Cup makes a mockery of that divide when the two teams meet at Elland Road in the third round on Saturday.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke is sure to make changes with promotion to the Premier League his sole ambition this season, but memories of recent cup defeats to the likes of Sutton, Newport and Crawley should ensure the Championship side give their opponents plenty of respect. 

Team news

Farke is likely to give minutes to a number of fringe players, among them Sam Chambers, Charlie Crew and Mateo Joseph.

The German may not wish to cup-tie Joe Gelhardt before a likely loan move, while Junior Firpo, Ilia Gruev and Patrick Bamford are injured.

New signing Bryn Morris should keep his place in central midfield after starring on his debut in Harrogate's 2-0 win at Barrow last weekend. Town's second new arrival — 18-year-old defender Eko Solomon — is eligible after agreeing a loan switch from Huddersfield.

Left-back Matty Faulds, defender Liam Gibson and winger Ellis Taylor are all back in training after injuries.

The stats

Leeds have not lost an FA Cup tie at Elland Road since 2011 and are unbeaten in their last 10 home fixtures this season, winning nine of those.

Farke's men are the Championship's highest scorers with 48 goals notched in 26 matches.

Harrogate had been without a win in seven before snapping that sequence with a 2-0 triumph at Barrow on Saturday.

Of their 13 away games played in League Two this term, they have been level at half-time in a division-high 10 of those.

The sides met in a pre-season friendly in July at Harrogate, with Leeds running out 3-0 winners.

Prediction

Harrogate Town's cup final is a trip to Elland Road for the first time in a competitive match, where they will be desperate to avoid being humiliated.

There is an almighty gulf between the top of the Championship and the relegation scrap in League Two, though Leeds are not immune to being on the wrong end of a cup upset in recent years.

And Whites' chief Farke will make a number of changes to protect several first-teamers at the back end of a busy festive schedule.

That has to offer a degree of hope to Simon Weaver, whose side will be up for this dream tie and make the short trip to Leeds off the back of an encouraging 2-0 win at Barrow.

Harrogate should lose, but they will be set up to be hard to break down and can stand firm. The Whites are rightly a short price to prevail, but Leeds not to win both halves could be where the value lies.

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