OXFORD United have already made more than £150,000 from the Emirates FA Cup this season, but head coach Michael Appleton knows a win tonight could be even more valuable.

While reputations were on the line in the first round at Merstham, the stakes are higher at Macclesfield Town.

The big prize is a place in Monday’s third round draw, when the Premier League sides join the competition.

Last season it netted a home tie with Swansea City, where a month of pre-match build-up gave way to priceless exposure on a national scale after the 3-2 win for the underdogs.

Appleton would dearly love to get another ticket to the raffle this time around.

“For as well as we did in the league last year and the promotion was fantastic, the cup definitely brought a bit of life back.

“The Swansea game put us back on the map.”

He added: “If we stay in, it keeps breathing life into the club.

“You get interest from outside and it’s another opportunity if you get through past Macclesfield to pull a Premier League side and the excitement that brings.

“I’m hoping we get the opportunity to do that again.”

Arguably, United are still reaping the rewards of the Swansea game.

While being drawn away to non-league sides in this season’s competition was key to having both ties televised – netting almost £140,000 in broadcast fees – the higher profile will have done no harm.

The unbudgeted windfall is most welcome, but having the cameras in attendance at Moss Rose tonight delivers another boost.

Appleton believes United’s chances of avoiding an upset are improved by the added attention.

He said: “The fact it’s on TV is a big bonus for us because there will be other League One sides this weekend playing non-league teams on the Saturday.

“It highlights the fact we are going to be in the public eye, there will be a lot of people hoping for the underdogs to win and I’d like to think that would help motivate us.

“You’ve got to make sure they are guarded against complacency.”

United went into the Merstham game looking to the FA Cup as a way to kick back into gear after an indifferent run in Sky Bet League One.

This time they have momentum after collecting seven points from their last three games.

And Appleton knows the effort which has paid off against Coventry City, Gillingham and Scunthorpe United must be repeated tonight, or they risk defeat.

“It’s just making sure we approach the game in exactly the same vein as we have for the last three games,” he said.

“If we approach it as we have done in the last three games we rightly will be the favourites, but anything less and it could be a dodgy time for us.

“It brings back memories of last season with the Braintree and Forest Green games.

“The reality is they were all close, hard-fought games.

“There’s no doubt, we’re going to Macclesfield knowing it could go either way.

“If we’re not 100 per cent at it, attitude-wise, we don’t defend well and don’t produce a bit of skill in the right areas at the top end of the pitch then it’s going to be a difficult night for us.

“They will fancy their chances.”