Image source, PA Media

Tightly contested opening five minutes. Nothing to separate the two just yet.

Matt Hiscock
BBC Radio London reporter

It will be tight. You look at Orient and you think, on paper, they've clearly got the better quality in their starting eleven. But in the FA Cup, it all goes out the window.

Looking at the pitch, there was a lot of heavy rain around an hour ago. You can already see certain areas have cut up during the warm-up.

Not a bad start for Salford as they make a burst down the left.

Leyton Orient's sky blue shirts come flooding back to snuff out the danger, though.

Orient's kit is a very similar shade to Manchester City's - the team both these sides went out to in last season's FA Cup.

Liam Hogan
Former Salford defender on BBC Radio Manchester

Salford did well last year. Similarly, Leyton Orient - they both pitted themselves against Manchester City, in the third and the fourth round respectively.

Salford have been going well so far in the league. They're playing on the front foot, they're playing with intensity. They'll probably see this as an opportunity to progress, and get themselves again into that famous third round, and go and get themselves another massive tie.

The club has been steadily building the last few years. They've now hit a peak where they haven't really gone any further. The new manager talks about new investments, they'll be looking to push Salford City to be the biggest they can be.

The first FA Cup second-round tie of the weekend is under way.

Remember, no more replays at this stage of the competition if it ends in a draw. Straight to extra-time and penalties, if needed, tonight.

BBC Local Radio

A quick reminder that you can also listen to live commentary of tonight's FA Cup second-round clash between Salford and Leyton Orient at the top of this page.

If you're unable to, fear not as we will also be listening in to bring you the best of the analysis throughout the game in text form right here.

You can have your say on the FA Cup weekend and tonight's action by pressing the Get Involved button at the top of this page.

Salford fans, do you think you can cause an upset tonight?

O's supporters, can you put together a cup run this season?

Let us know!

Image source, Shutterstock

Leyton Orient sit 13th in League One and 18 league places above Salford City in the division below.

The O's have grown in confidence in recent weeks, climbing the table in the third tier with two wins and a draw.

Their best run in this competition came in the 1977-78 season, when they lost to Arsenal in the semi-finals.

Tonight's objective will be to avoid an upset.

Liam Hogan
Former Salford defender on BBC Radio Manchester

Image source, Getty Images

You just get that feeling coming into the ground. There's an excitement around the club, coming off the back of what they did last year in this competition.

You've got a League One club coming to their turf. It's a bit of a free hit, playing against a team from a higher division. The players will be coming in here, it's on telly, it's a lovely night to play, the rain has stopped, the grass looks great. Hopefully, we're in for a great game.

Image source, Getty Images

Salford City made history last season when they reached the third round of the FA Cup.

It was the first time the club had done so, even if the short trip to the Etihad Stadium was ultimately one to forget as they were beaten 8-0 at Manchester City.

The main focus this season for Karl Robinson's side is arguably trying to win promotion from League Two, where they currently sit seventh and in the play-off spots.

But there is a chance for these players to push further into the competition and set a new club record should they go as far as the fourth round.

The Ammies have won two of their past six games in all competitions (D1 L3) since knocking out Lincoln in the first round.

Image source, Opta

Karl Robinson makes two changes for Salford City from their dramatic 4-3 win at home to Crawley in League Two on Saturday.

Josh Austerfield and Kallum Cesay come into the side in place of Cole Stockton and Matt Butcher, who both drop to the bench.

Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens names an unchanged XI from their excellent 4-0 win at Burton Albion in League One six days ago.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Shutterstock

Another added incentive for both sides tonight is that Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens returns to the club he managed for just four months between November 2020 and March 2021 during the Covid pandemic, when supporters were not allowed to attend matches.

"At Salford, it was difficult," Wellens told BBC Radio London. "No fans [attended] and there was no interaction with the supporters. At every club I've been at, we've had a good interaction with the community.

"But we could never have that, so it's not a period I look back on with any fond memories.

"They've moved on, I've moved on, I wish them all the best. I like Karl [Robinson]. But obviously I want them to get knocked out on Friday. I hope at the end of the season, they come up."

Wellens is hoping his team can repeat last season's fairytale run, when they beat Boreham Wood, Oldham Athletic and knocked Championship side Derby County out on penalties before facing Manchester City, against whom they put on a respectable showing in a 2-1 defeat to the eventual runners-up.

"We want to get to that round again and hopefully get one of the big boys," he added.

Image source, PA Media

Salford and Leyton Orient have only met seven times, all coming in League Two.

The most recent meetings were in the 2022-23 season, when the O's won both games - 1-0 at home and 2-0 away.

The Ammies have beaten Orient twice, with two draws and three wins for this evening's visitors.

This will be the first-ever FA Cup tie between the two.

Leyton Orient needed an own goal 11 minutes from time to edge past National League side Tamworth in the first round and avoid a potential upset.

The O's were made to work very hard for the win and will know they face perhaps an even tougher test this evening.

Watch highlights of their narrow win at Tamworth above.

Salford’s FA Cup run this season was a matter of minutes from coming to an end in the first round against League One high-fliers Lincoln City.

But Kelly N'Mai's 93rd-minute equaliser forced extra-time for the Ammies and proved crucial as Karl Robinson's side drew 1-1 and went on to beat the Imps 4-2 on penalties, with Daniel Udoh slotting away the decisive spot-kick.

Can they cause another upset against a third-tier side tonight?

You can relive Salford's first-round success above.

Right, on to tonight and let’s take a look at how these sides made it to round two…

Image source, Getty Images

The drama of the FA Cup always ramps up another notch in the second round.

But it's not just the allure of progressing with the potential to meet a team from the top flight. There is also the chance to make history this weekend for plenty of teams.

With 11 non-league sides still in the competition, some are vying to reach the third round for the first time ever.

If you're wondering what to look out for in the next couple of days, we've got you covered with some of the biggest talking points.

Take a look right here.

Image source, PA Media

Good evening!

Yes, we know... where does the time go?! It only seems like five minutes ago that Crystal Palace were wielding this famous trophy aloft at Wembley after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final in May and winning the first major trophy in their history.

Well, almost seven months have passed since then and the chance to face the defending champions or any of the big boys begins tonight for those in League One and below who still remain in the competition.

Our first second-round tie of the weekend is upon us and both Salford City and Leyton Orient will have ambitions of putting together a cup run.

Get comfy, relax and let's take a look ahead to this evening's clash at the Peninsula Stadium.