SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY boss Alan Irvine says people should not underestimate what beating Southport would mean to his side.

The former Everton assistant manager brings his League One outfit to Haig Avenue on Sunday for a first round tie knowing the pressure is on his fallen giants.

Irvine, 52, needs no reminding that the appearance of the ITV cameras, a ground at full capacity and the long history of cup upsets, are setting three-time winners Wednesday up for an uncomfortable day.

But the burden of favourites against the Blue Square Bet Premier Sandgrounders is a familiar weight to Irvine and his men.

A run of consecutive defeats in the league has brought even greater pressure ahead of the 12pm kick-off and with reported debts of up to £1million, the prize money and a run in the FA Cup remains as essential to Wednesday as to Southport.

“This is an important game for us and nobody should think this is a bigger game for Southport than Sheffield Wednesday,” said Irvine.

“This is important for us in a big way.

“We have the pressure on us every single game of the season because in League One we are seen as many teams’ ‘big game’ of the season. So Sunday will be nothing unusual for us and I made the players aware at the start of the season of the pressure which comes with playing for Sheffield Wednesday. It is the same with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest when they came down to this division as big clubs.

“My lads are fully aware of the challenge they face this weekend at Southport but are relishing the prospect.”