The Cooma Tigers have been given a golden chance to advance to the FFA Cup round of 16 after they drew a home fixture and avoided an A-League rival on Wednesday night.
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The Tigers will play Victorian club powerhouse Hume City in the round of 32, with the date and the venue to be confirmed in the coming days.
It's good news for the Tigers, who beat Canberra FC to secure the capital region's ticket to the national stage of the FFA Cup.
The Cooma side will be playing in the tournament for the first time, but their task won't be a walk in the park despite earning home rights and avoiding a clash against an A-League franchise.
Hume City beat Heidelberg United 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller last month and the Broadmeadows club made the FFA Cup semi-finals four years ago, only to have its run stopped by the Melbourne Victory.
The Tigers, however, have been in impressive form in the Capital Football premier league, losing just one of nine games so far this year.
Striker Nico Abot is the competition's leading scorer with 12 goals, but it was the team's goal-keeper who sealed their spot in the FFA Cup.
Cooma and Canberra FC were locked at 0-0 when fogged rolled into Deakin Stadium two weeks ago, forcing officials to delay a penalty shoot-out by 30 minutes.
When the fog cleared, goal-keeper Jakob Cole stepped up to the challenge with a brilliant effort between the posts and then nailing to winning penalty shot.
Meanwhile, FFA Cup defending champions Adelaide United will start its title defence against the Melbourne Knights, while the Brisbane Roar will clash against Sydney FC.
The Brisbane-Sydney showdown is one of three all-A-League fixtures, with the Perth Glory to host the Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory to host Newcastle in the round of 32. There are three other matches between amateurs and prfoessional teams, with Maitland FC to play against the Central Coast Mariners, Campbelltown City SC to face Melbourne City and Brisbane Strikers take on the Wellington Phoenix.
The all-member federation fixtures sees local match-ups with Mt Druitt Town Rangers drawn against Manly United, St George FC to face Sydney United and in an all-Victorian NPL2 affair FC Bulleen Lions clash with Moreland Zebras FC.
The winners will advance to the next stage and the potential of hosting an A-League side could provide Cooma with a huge financial boost if they beat Hume City.
