The hopes of an entire city will be riding with Tuggeranong United as the Capital Football National Premier League team makes its mark on the national stage.
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United begins its maiden voyage into the Football Federation Australia Cup with a round-of-32 encounter away to South Hobart at KGV Park in Hobart on Tuesday night.
Steve Forshaw's side arrived in the Apple Isle on Monday before having a light training session in preparation for the biggest game in the club's history. Victory could potentially set up a home round-of-16 tie against an A-League side at Viking Park.
United veteran Matt Menser, who made his first-grade debut with the club 13 years ago, says it's the perfect chance to put Canberra on the map.
''A poor performance from us isn't a good look for Canberra and we don't want to be that team,'' he said.
''We want to put on a good show and show that Canberra deserves a place in football in Australia, not just tucked away by the wayside. If we can manage to win the first game it does wonders for us in the Australian football community.
''Hopefully down the track it helps get Canberra the A-League team it so much deserves and needs.''
United qualified for the FFA Cup courtesy of last year's victory in the ACT's knockout competition, the Federation Cup.
It successfully appealed against Capital Football's original decision to hold a pre-season tournament this year featuring NPL clubs to determine its entrant in the FFA Cup.
''At the time the Federation Cup was the first chance for us to win a trophy because we hadn't won one in a while,'' Menser said.
"Winning that trophy for us is a massive thing and the FFA Cup is just a bonus on top of that. When we found out [we would be playing in the FFA Cup] there was a bit of disbelief and it hasn't felt real until a couple of weeks ago when it all got really close.''
United's focus has been on its NPL campaign where it sits fifth on the table after a confidence-boosting 5-1 win against the Monaro Panthers last Friday night.
It faces a massive step up in class against a South Hobart side that is six points clear at the top of the Victory League in Tasmania, and made the grand finalof last year's NPL before losing to Sydney United 58.
But after seeing a couple of upsets in the FFA Cup last week, Forshaw knows anything is possible.
"If we play to our potential there's no reason we can't get a very positive result,'' he said.
Under-20s players Tomas Ruiz and Ethan Munster have been added to squad, as has promising under-18 goalkeeper Mitch McKenzie.
TUESDAY
FFA Cup: Tuggeranong United v South Hobart, at KGV Park, Hobart, 7.30pm.
