Non-league Macclesfield host FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (12:15 GMT) and it has presented a dilemma for one young football fan with an affinity for both clubs.
For Macclesfield season ticket holder Toby, it is a fixture he could have only once dreamed of, having also supported Palace since the age of four.
“It’s just surreal,” he said. “Sometimes I used to think ‘what if Macc were to play Palace?’. And it was just like ‘that’s not going to happen’. Well it is.
“It’s just an event you wouldn’t normally see happen as a supporter. It feels really weird to be seeing all Palace’s top players here.”
The 12-year-old began watching Macclesfield in 2020 after the club reformed under new owner Rob Smethurst, while also still following the Eagles to away games across England’s north west.
Macclesfield are 14th in the sixth-tier National League North and are managed by John Rooney, brother of ex-England captain Wayne. Palace, meanwhile, are 13th in the Premier League.
Toby is still torn between which team he wants to see progress through to the fourth round.
“I’ve got tickets in the home end,” he said. “Choosing who I want to win, it would be great to see Palace play in another round but it would just be amazing to see Macc go on into the fourth.
“I’m not expecting too much of a thrashing from Palace and I’m expecting Macc to do well, so probably a 2-1 Palace win.
“But I’m hoping Macclesfield do get a last-minute goal, that would be great.”
Follow live coverage of Macclesfield v Crystal Palace across BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and app from 12:15 GMT on Saturday