George Tanner has already played against Phil Foden once in his career.
It came in the Manchester derby at Under-18 level when the Bristol City right-back was trying to break through from the academy with the Red Devils. Tanner was on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat on that day with Foden scoring the second goal of the game.
It's been more than six years since and the duo's career paths couldn't have been much more different ahead of their reunion on Tuesday night. Foden remained at the Etihad, without even leaving on loan, as Pep Guardiola slowly integrated him into the senior set-up.
For Tanner, he's had to graft from the depths of League Two. Knowing his contract was coming to an end at Manchester United towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign, the 23-year-old was forced to step out of his comfort zone to get regular playing time with Morecambe.
A move to Carlisle would follow where his potential was realised by City after just one season. The Robins would then fork out £300,000 for his signature with the club looking firmly towards the future.
Nigel Pearson has been open in admitting they have had to fast-track Tanner into the side given the lack of options at right-back. Two hamstring injuries last season cruelly hampered his progress but having come into the team this season on the back of Kane Wilson's misfortune, the defender has earned his place in the starting XI to take on Pep Guardiola's side.
After the draw was made, it provided Tanner with the opportunity to reminisce on his youth days against the country's top talent. He said: "Under-18 levels were really tough games.
"I remember playing against Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Ibrahim Diaz, and a lot of top players who have gone on to do really well. It will be good to see how we get on against them in the next fixture.
"I loved my time at Man United, it is one of the best academies in the world in terms of development and experiences so joining there at eight and all the way up until 21, so I've gained a lot of experience and learning and I have good memories there."
One man who will have a vested interest in the cup tie will be Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. The 36-year-old was United's Under-18 manager during that game against Man City.
"Kieran McKenna, who is doing well at Ipswich now, he was a really good coach and I learned a lot from him," Tanner added. "My early coach was a guy called Nipper who went out to work in America and I still keep in contact with him.
"He always texts me and watches my games. He was the one who scouted me and has kept an eye on me all the way through.
"Being in that environment and when you see all the first-team players, you're a little starstruck. But as you grow older you look up to them and obviously, the dream was to get in the first-team there but it doesn't happen very often there so I sought an opportunity to go out on loan and get some games under my belt which was very important."
Tanner is under no illusions of the task at hand to pull off an FA Cup giant-killing. The Premier League champions are obviously firm favourites but City's underdog status means they can go out and play without the added pressure.
"For us, we have to take it as if there's no pressure on us. Everyone expects Man City to win but it's definitely not going to be an easy game," Tanner said. "We just have to believe in ourselves. The way we're playing at the minute, we just have to be fully confident going into the game and giving them no respect."
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