Albion could face a weakened Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

But boss Gus Poyet admits the Seagulls will still face a huge task to emulate the upset caused by his old club Leeds.

Poyet was an ITV studio guest for Leeds' stunning televised victory over Manchester United in the third round at Old Trafford on Sunday.

A few hours later he discovered his League One strugglers will be off to Villa Park in round four on January 23 or 24.

The tie will be the third of four home games in succession for Martin O'Neill's Champions League place contenders, a run which starts against West Ham the previous Sunday.

Albion's visit falls in-between Villa's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Blackburn and a key Premier League clash against Arsenal, both of which will be far more important to the West Midlands giants.

It means O'Neill is likely to include fringe players against Albion, such as the Seagulls' former on-loan midfielder Steve Sidwell.

Poyet said: "Everybody is quite happy at the club with the draw and we are looking forward to the game already.

"Aston Villa are a massive club and they are doing fantastically. It's going to be great.

"Villa Park is always a difficult place to go to and I am sure it will be very tough for us, so we will have to be at our very best and hope that they do not have a good day, because they are clear favourites to go through.

"Martin is doing a fantastic job there and a team pushing for that fourth place in the Premier League is going to be very difficult for us, so we have to be realistic."

Poyet won the Cup with Chelsea as a player in 2000, beating Villa 1-0 in the final at Wembley. Villa have lifted the trophy seven times but not since 1957.

Bookies have installed them as 10-1 sixth favourites, with Albion 3000-1.

Poyet added: "Everybody wanted to play a Premier League team, so I know it is going to be a great day. We have to be brave enough to go there and try to put on a good performance.

"I don't know the team Martin is going to play but I am pretty sure it is going to be a strong one.

"Sometimes you make a mistake and get away with it in League One but that definitely won't happen against a Premier League team.

"Let's enjoy it. It will be a great day for everyone, a massive opportunity to play against top players."

The weather forced Albion to train indoors yesterday in preparation for two crucial league games ahead of the glamour Cup tie, at home to Brentford on Saturday and away to Villa's near-neighbours Walsall seven days later.