Its that time of the year again...

This week see's the annual return of the FA Cup 3rd round and fans up and down the country will be waiting to see where the shock of the round will come in this years version of the most famous Cup competition in the world.

Some Premiership managers will put the Cup bottom on their list of priorities, which could have a part to play. Others will see there full strength sides fall at the hands of lower league minnows.

That is the magic of the cup, with this year being no different and the potential for Premier League giants to succumb is going to happen somewhere, but where?

Here's a few of the contenders.

Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City

Now managerless Bolton are in turmoil. Gary Megson's spikey relationship with the clubs fans came to an end and the club face a battle to keep their place in the Premiership this season.

League 2 side Lincoln City, managed by the up and coming Chris Sutton, will go to the Reebok with no fear and with a team fresh after recent postponements. Bolton played midweek and that could play a part.

Chris Sutton has seen it all before and will have his young side fired up to make the most of their afternoon in the limelight.

Chance of an upset here.

MK Dons vs Burnley

Burnley's bright start to the season has faltered dramatically in recent weeks. They are without a win in 9 games and are yet to win away from home all season. That being said, a trip to League 1 MK Dons could be problematic.

Once again under the stewardship of former Blackburn Manager Paul Ince, MK Dons sit in 8th position on the edge of the play-off positions.

With lofty aspirations to one day Premiership football themselves, this is a chance for the Buckinghamshire side to put down a marker for the future.

Owen Coyle will be more concerned with keeping his side in the Premiership, so expect a weakened side to be pushed all the way in this one.

Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City

These two local rivals met twice in the Championship last season but both sides are in very different places now.

Birmingham have been on an impressive run of form, unbeaten in 11 games and sitting just outside the European spots in the Premiership.

Billy Davies' Forest are on an equally impressive run, and see themselves sitting third in the Championship.

Both sides will go into the game full of confidence and under no pressure at all, so it promises to be an entertaining affair.

A gung ho battle could favour Forest but it would be a surprise if they knocked off Birmingham here.

Portsmouth vs Coventry City

Portsmouth are a mess. Bottom of the Premiership, there players not being paid again, having to sell their players and being faced with a winding up order from the HM Revenues and Customs.

A cup run while being beneficial to the club for short term finances, is ultimately not a priority for them. They need to survive in the Premiership if they are to carry on existing in their current form.

They also have a lot of players away at the African Cup of Nations which will add to the weaken the side even further then Avram Grant may have in mind anyway.

Look for Coventry to go to Fratton Park with no pressure on them and turn Portsmouth over in the same way Swansea did last season.

Stoke City vs York City

One of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition, York City go to the Britannia with absolutely no pressure on them at all. In pursuit of promotion back to the football league, they look set to provide an interesting challenge to robust Stoke City.

While Stoke's effective style of play may eventually overcome the Blue Square Premier side, it could also play into their hands by reflecting that of York's more familiar non-league opponents.

Stoke have only managed 15 goals all season, so despite the vast gulf between the sides in terms of league position, this could prove to be an interesting encounter.

Sunderland vs Barrow

Barrow are no stranger to a trip to face more illustrious rivals in the north-east, having faced Middlesborough in the 3rd round in 2009.

They took a massive following that day and were by no means disgraced, falling 2-1 to their then Premiership opposition.

Sunderland's squad is ravaged with injuries at the moment and Steve Bruce is down to the bare bones, so this is by no means a certain win for the home side.

A battered and depleted Sunderland side wont relish facing the combative Barrow players and this could be the shock of the round.

Tranmere vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mick McCarthy showed exactly where his priorities lie recently by changing his entire outfield team for the game at Old Trafford.

He clearly is only interested in survival this season, so expect more of the same here away to League 1 strugglers Tranmere.

Despite now being under the stewardship of Ronnie Moore, Tranmere are still languishing in the relegation zone so this game could be a welcome break from their league turmoil.

It's the last game of the weekend, kicking off at 18:15 on Sunday night, and it has the potential to be a big upset.