THE SEASIDERS will join the draw for the third round of the FA Cup this afternoon when all Premiership and Championship sides enter the competition.

The draw, which will take place at the FA's Soho Square Headquarters, will be carried out by former England internationals Sir Trevor Brooking and Ray Clemence. It will be shown live on ITV1 and Setanta Sports at 2:15pm following the televised second round tie between Histon and Leeds United.

Blackpool have been allocated ball number 6 for the draw and will look to fair better than they did last season in the competition when they lost 2-1 at Barnsley in the third round.

Other notable balls to look out for are: 1 Arsenal, 2 Aston Villa, 12 Chelsea, 21 Liverpool, 23 Manchester United, 30 Preston and 39 Tottenham Hotspur. Current holders Portsmouth are ball number 29.      

Third round ties will take place on the weekend of January 3-4.