Albion were back to full strength following Tuesday's golden goal exit from the LDV Vans Trophy for a makeshift line-up at Cambridge United.

Taylor named the team which took the Seagulls three points clear at the top of the Second Division with a impressive 2-0 victory at Bury last Saturday.

Paul Brooker made his first home start since October 30 in an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

Pitcher's energetic performance at Cambridge earned him a place on the bench alongside Steele, at the expense of Dirk Lehmann and Steve Melton.

Rushden, beaten once in their last 13 outings in the Third Division, made a couple of changes to the side which saw off Bristol Rovers 3-1 at home last Saturday.

Mark Peters and Barry Hunter were back from one-match bans in the centre of defence.

Albion, knocked out at the second round stage in the previous two seasons under Micky Adams, were facing a team with a much better recent pedigree in the FA Cup.

Diamonds reached round three as a Conference club in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 before losing replays against Sheffield United and Leeds.

Albion: Michel Kuipers, Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Simon Morgan, Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Nathan Jones, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Pitcher, Rogers, Steele, Virgo, Pethick.

Rushden and Diamonds: Billy Turley; Paul Underwood, Mark Peters, Garry Butterworth, Jon Brady, Scott Partridge, Paul Hall, Ritchie Hanlon, Andy Sambrook, Onadi Lowe, Barry Hunter. Subs: Burgess, Rodwell, Pennock, Setchell, Thomson.

Referee: Mr S. Bennett (Orpington).