Video assistant referee technology (VAR) and semi-automated offside technology will not be used until the fifth round of this season's FA Cup.

Because of infrastructure and operational costs, VAR had previously only been used at Premier League grounds, and at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals and final.

The Football Association says this decision will ensure a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs that take part in the competition.

Goalline technology, however, will be available for all fixtures hosted by Premier League and Championship clubs.

• Read more about it here

Clinton Morrison
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Stok Cae Ras

It's opportunities like these for clubs like Wrexham, even though they are going well in the Championship, to take a scalp and put a dent in Nottingham Forest. It's nights like this you look forward to.

Robert Earnshaw
Former Nottingham Forest and Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

It's Wales versus my old team. It's an FA Cup game under the lights, it's going to be a very interesting evening - I'm looking forward to it.

I was part of the Cardiff City team that beat Leeds United in 2002.

There are things in your career that stand out instantly, beating Leeds United, top of the Premier League, and it was justified. We deserved to win that game.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche speaking to TNT Sports about opponents Wrexham: "They are going great as well, and so is Phil [Parkinson] and what he has done in his career, especially here. I know they've had backing but you've still got to win and get the job done."

On reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup as a player with Chesterfield: "It was an amazing time for a small club like Chesterfield to go all the way through to the semi-finals. It was hard on Wrexham, a tight game on the day.

"The development of this club [Wrexham] has been amazing, not just for the club but for the place, the area, it has been exceptional."

Oxford must be short of confidence going into this one. They are in a relegation battle and have lost four of their past five games.

Craig Short is in interim charge and, like all teams fighting the drop, I'm sure Championship survival is his priority over the FA Cup.

MK Dons boss Paul Warne is an old team-mate of mine from my village team, Horsford Under-12s, and he learnt a lot from playing alongside me.

They are going well under him in the league and I have got faith in Paul to deliver an FA Cup shock.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2 after extra time, MK Dons to win on penalties

MK Dons boss Paul Warne does not think Oxford's Championship struggles will stop his League Two side having a really tough game today.

"It doesn’t matter what Championship team you play, they’re still a very, very good team," he said.

"If you sold their team, half of them would stay in the Championship, the other half would be in the top end of League One.

"Their team will turn up here wanting to win, wanting to play well, to give a good account of themselves because you never know who is watching."

Image source, Getty Images

Both clubs will remember George Baldock before tonight's game.

The right-back drowned in the swimming pool of his home in Glyfada, Greece in October 2024 at the age of 31.

Baldock played 125 games in eight years at MK Dons from 2009 and 2017, a period which also saw him spend two successful loan spells with Oxford.

Both will be helping raising awareness of the George Baldock Foundation, which was set up to raise money for football community charities who provide help for disadvantaged children.

"He was the type of character who shouldn't be forgotten and we're going to make sure he's not. He was so positive and very charitable as well and he'd be proud we're doing something like this in his name," elder brother Sam Baldock - who also played for both clubs - told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Both clubs are coming together and will wear warm-up T-shirts with the foundation's name on, and there'll be a QR code for people at the game to donate if they so wish."

Port Vale are struggling and they are another team who have just changed their manager. This will be Jon Brady's first game in charge, after they sacked Darren Moore at the end of December.

Vale got a big win over Blackpool on New Year's Day but they have still got the worst home record in League One, with only two wins there all season.

Fleetwood knocked out another League One side, Luton, on penalties in round two which was a great result - so the Cod Army won't be afraid of Vale, either.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

This is Jon Brady's first game in charge of Port Vale.

The 50-year-old Australian, the former Northampton Town manager, was appointed on Tuesday.

"Fleetwood are a good, strong side in League Two, but really it’s about us and how we perform on the day. If we can perform to the best of our ability, then we have every chance of progressing through to the next round," said Brady.

Gary Mills was named as the club's assistant boss earlier today.

Darren Moore was sacked in late December with the club bottom of League One.

Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Stok Cae Ras

There's a proper cup atmosphere here, also a sprinkling of Hollywood magic with Ryan Reynolds in the house.

Wrexham, who were still a non-league club when Forest gained promotion back to the Premier League four years ago, start tonight in ninth place in the Championship.

Image source, Reuters

Wrexham

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson speaking to TNT Sports: "It's a great occasion for us and another good test. Along the last four years or so coming up the divisions we've had many tests where we've had to adapt and play teams from higher leagues in the cups, and this is the next level of that in terms of coming up against a Premier League team.

"It's a good test individually and collectively but it is one we are looking forward to after the Christmas we've had.

"As always you want to see where you are as a team against the power of the Premier League players because that is sometimes the difference. Can we go toe-to-toe with them tonight?

"When the draw came out we sat down as a staff and said that the aim was to get through the Christmas period in good form, and we managed to do that, and tonight I want the supporters, players and staff to enjoy the occasion. But, we will only enjoy it if we play somewhere near our maximum."

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

That Wrexham team is a sign of how seriously they're taking the FA Cup - and how much they want a Premier League scalp, one thing still missing from the club's Hollywood era under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

There are four changes from Sunday's 2-1 Championship win at Derby County, and it's no surprise to see Matty James and Max Cleworth given the night off as they're left out of the squad entirely.

Veteran midfielder James has featured in every league game this season, while defender Cleworth has played in all but one of Wrexham's 26 Championship fixtures to date.

There's also a welcome sight for the club's fans as left wing-back Liberato Cacace comes in for his first start since November.

The New Zealander has endured an injury-interrupted first season in north Wales since joining from Italian side Empoli last summer and has been eased back into action with two substitute appearances so far this month.

Money-bags Wrexham have picked up a bit of form in the Championship.

Nottingham Forest got a huge win at West Ham on Tuesday and Sean Dyche will want to carry that momentum on here.

I suspect this will be tight, because Wrexham are unbeaten in 10 games at home, but Forest should have a little bit too much quality.

Chris Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Fleetwood are mid-table in League Two, sitting 13th, but they are only six points behind the play-off places.

They will have to crack on without Irish striker Ryan Graydon, who has joined League Two rivals Salford City earlier today - for a reported fee of £400,000.

"There was speculation in the summer, and we knew it would come back around," said boss Pete Wild before the deal was announced.

"The club have been excellent in making sure if he was going to go, it was for proper value."

Image source, Getty Images

This will be the final game of Craig Short's third caretaker manager stint in charge of Oxford United.

That is because Matt Bloomfield was confirmed as the club's new manager in the last couple of hours.

However he did not take over in time to manage the club for this game.

Short, who also had two temporary spells either side of Liam Manning in 2023, has won one and lost two of three Championship games since stepping in after Gary Rowett was sacked.

United are in the Championship relegation zone and haven't reached the FA Cup fourth round since 2020.

Wigan Athletic

Image source, Getty Images

Wigan travel to Deepdale to face Preston tonight as two former FA Cup winners face off.

The Latics shocked Manchester City to lift the trophy in 2013, while the most recent of Preston's two triumphs in the competition came in 1938.

Almost 13 years on from that famous win, Wigan find themselves 15th in League One and face a big challenge against a Preston side flying high in the Championship.

"It’s a really special cup for this football club, and we’re all really excited for Friday night," Wigan defender Will Aimson said.

"It speaks for itself what the club did in this competition - we give Callum McManaman a bit of stick for it, but it’s unbelievable what the club achieved.

"You dream about playing at the biggest stadiums, especially in this competition. Hopefully, if we can put on a performance and go through, we might draw one of them.

“We want to test ourselves against better players. They’ve had a good season so far, and it’s going to be a difficult game, but it’s one we’re looking forward to."

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live has full build up and coverage of tonight's action at the Racecourse Ground.

Aaron Paul is joined by former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and commentator Conor McNamara from 19:00 GMT before kick off at 19:30 GMT.

Tune in on BBC Sounds or via the link at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

The FA Cup third round is almost upon us - and you can keep tabs on all of the action across the BBC.

Of course you can follow along with our live text commentaries here on the BBC Sport website, which will cover all of the weekend's action.

If you want to watch live then two matches - hosted by National League side Macclesfield and the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur - will be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

If you're on the go this weekend then don't fret! BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will be broadcasting nineteen matches from the FA Cup third round across 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the Sports Extra 2 and Sports Extra 3 radio streams (available only on BBC Sounds).

And finally highlights from all games will be on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app on Saturday (22:40 GMT) and Sunday (22:30 GMT).

Read more about how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche speaking to TNT Sports: "It's an important game. We have come off a really good win in the week but we have changed the side, we have to use all of the players in the squad, because we have had so many games. We've got a quiet week next week and then it all picks up again in the Europa League. We've got some good players out there tonight so I expect a performance.

"We've had eight injuries to players, some that have proved themselves at this club and others who want to prove themselves, so the true fitness is not there in some of them, but we've got no choice but to use them.

"These are tricky games. I've made it absolutely clear to the players that our attitude has to be spot on. Quality-wise we should have more, just because of the profile of the players. There should be some players knocking on the door.

"It is different now, you've got players all over the world in the Premier League and they don't understand the depth of it [the FA Cup] like we do. So I have been trying to reinforce that it is an important game."

Wrexham

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder George Dobson feels the Wrexham squad are ready to produce an FA Cup upset against Nottingham Forest after watching footage of the club’s famous giant-killing acts.

Boss Phil Parkinson sat down his squad this week to examine just why Wrexham have such a proud tradition in the competition.

Mickey Thomas’ spectacular free-kick that knocked out Arsenal in 1992 took pride of place, but there was also footage of memorable wins over Newcastle and West Ham and the 4-3 victory at Coventry three years ago when Wrexham were a National League team under Parkinson.

“It was a real good insight to some fantastic moments down the years, to get the feel of the history of the FA Cup and what it means to everyone at the club,” said Dobson.

“It gave me goosebumps to see that what’s been created before and it makes you feel you’ve got that opportunity to create that history for yourself.

“We have an opportunity against a good Premier League club to stamp our own history here, and that is one the whole group is really looking forward to.

“The club has had a couple of good (FA Cup) runs without facing a Premier League team, so hopefully we can replicate what they did back in the day.”