SIMON Cox is hoping to avoid an FA Cup upset at the first hurdle for the second successive season in tomorrow's third-round trip to League One Huddersfield (ko 3pm).

The Baggies striker was part of a Swindon side that was dumped out at the first-round stage of last term's competition by Blue Square Premier outfit Histon.

And he knows Albion will have to battle hard against the in-form Terriers if they are to have any chance of progressing to the fourth round.

"I remember last year, Swindon versus Histon, when we got beaten and that wasn't great," said Cox.

"It wasn't good because we were the so-called big side there, and there were small changing rooms and a small pitch and they did everything that a lower league or conference side does.

"After we lost there Leeds went there and got beaten as well so it softened the blow.

"We just have to go to Huddersfield with the right mental attitude and try to come away with a nice win."

Cox believes victory in the cup is important to keep the momentum going when the Baggies return to league action against promotion rivals Nottingham Forest next Friday (ko 7.45pm).

And he has urged his team-mates to learn lessons from September's Carling Cup exit at Arsenal when they only took one point from the following three Coca-Cola Championship games.

"Obviously the cup is second because we want to get promotion, which is the main aim," he added.

"But it's the next game so it's the most important one for us.

"We've got good momentum after winning the last two games so we will take it into this game and hopefully we'll get through and we'll see who we get in the next round.

"At the end of the day we have to do a job at Huddersfield and if we can get through that with a win, and without any more injuries or suspensions, then we will have done well.

"We are looking at the Huddersfield game first and as soon as that is over we will be looking forward to the Forest game in the league.

"We were doing really well, went to Arsenal and got beaten in the Carling Cup and then had a bit of a dip in form.

"If we go to Huddersfield and get beaten we could have another dip in form.

"That's why, at the moment, we will welcome any win that comes our way and, if we win every game, the form will keep going.

"We don't want that dip in form at the moment when we're so close to Newcastle and at the top in the league.

"It would be nice to get close to the cup final and the consistency of winning games probably helps in the league."

The 22-year-old hotshot is no stranger to scoring at the Galpharm Stadium having notched there in League One for the Robins last January.

But he is hoping for a different outcome tomorrow having lost both times to the Terriers last season.

And he insists Albion will give their hosts the utmost respect whatever team Roberto Di Matteo fields.

"We haven't got a massive squad but it's up to the gaffer whether he chooses to rotate," said Cox.

"The question was asked earlier and he said we haven't got a massive squad so he will put as strong a team out as he can.

"That's right, because you have to show respect to lower league teams.

"They are a good team who play good football.

"We all want to play but if the gaffer chooses to give two or three players a rest I think we would welcome it.

"We've got big games coming up, and we've played two games in three days, so some of the boys are a little bit leggy.

"But if the gaffer picked the same 11 players who played the last game we would be happy to play."