Cup draw could throw up local derby

City could face a local derby against basement side Bristol Rovers when the draw for the first round of the Carling Cup in made on Thursday.

The Robins are one of the seeded teams – due to their superior league position – and could play the Gas, Swindon, Plymouth or Yeovil in the first round.

With the draw split in northern and southern sections, City can only play one of the following unseeded teams:

Aldershot, Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Cheltenham Town, Crawley Town/AFC Wimbledon, Dagenham & Redbridge, Gillingham, Hereford United, Northampton Town, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Southend United, Stevenage, Swindon Town, Torquay United, Wycombe Wanderers, Yeovil Town.

City and Rovers last played each other in the Tin Pot trophy back in 2007, but clashed in the first round of the League Cup at the start of 1997/98 – with the Reds coming out 2-1 winners on aggregate.

The draw will be announced at 10am this Thursday.