Forest Green Rovers player-assistant boss Jerry Gill is backing his goalkeeper, former soldier Terry Burton, to perform on the FA Cup frontline today.

The Conference Premier side are looking to take out the scalp of Rochdale at the New Lawn.

Youngster Burton has established himself as Rovers' No 1 this season.

Gill said: "Terry is a bit of a character. He has served in Afghanistan and he is a fun boy in the dressing room, full of stories.

"He has come into the frontline – I should be working for the Sun – and done really well for us this season.

"On the serious side, he has taken over from Ryan Robinson and he is a really positive keeper who comes for everything and he made some top saves, including a penalty, in our win over Mansfield last week."

Meanwhile, Rovers' manager Jim Harvey appears to have riled his Rochdale counterpart Keith Hill ahead of today's tie.

The pair know each other after Hill finished his playing career under Harvey at Morecambe. Hill has accused Harvey of 'virtually saying he expects to go through'.

Hill said: "I know Jim Har very well, having played under him at Morecambe.

"He has got his players up for this game, though they are struggling in the league.

"They are in a relegation spot at this moment in time and he will not like that.

"It is unusual for him to be in that position but he has got his players up for this game and he sees this as an opportunity to get through to the third round.

"He has virtually said in his press conferences that he expects to go through.

"Forest Green had a great result in this competition against Rotherham last season beating them in a replay at Millmoor.

"They are not the same team as they were last season though and have obviously struggled in the league, and our away record is as good as it gets."

Hill – a former central defender with Blackburn, Plymouth and Rochdale – spent the most unproductive season of his career at Cheltenham Town in 2001-02.

Signed by Steve Cotterill from Dale, Hill made a total of five appearances before joining Wrexham.

Hill almost became a youth coach while under Harvey at Morecambe before beginning his managerial career in a similar role at Spotland.

Forest Green are hoping to welcome back Adriano Rigoglioso and Mark Preece after both missed the Mansfield game with groin injuries.

Forest Green Rovers (from): Burton, Gill, Jones, Kempson, Stonehouse, Low, Smith, Clist, Symonds, Mohamed, Platt, Afful, Fowler, Robinson, Mangan, Preece, Rigoglioso.