The Welsh Cup weekend begins with a highly anticipated North West derby as Holyhead Hotspur entertain Caernarfon Town on Friday night.

The New Stadium is expecting a bumper crowd for the pick of the six ties involving Anglesey and Gwynedd clubs in the second round.

Hotspur remain unbeaten in the Ardal North West since August - and have already beaten Valley Seniors, Bethesda Athletic and Llandudno Amateurs on their way to a first meeting with the Cofis in over two years.

The hosts last reached the third round in the 2018-19 competition, when they were knocked out by Bangor City.

One key player to watch will be Holyhead striker Cory Williams, who has scored nine goals in all competition so far this season, including five in the Welsh Cup.

But although he joined Hotspur two years ago, the former Caernarfon marksman is a Cofi at heart - born in the town and teaching at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, where some of his pupils are likely to be throwing their support behind the visitors.

He told the FAW website: "I’ve been getting a bit of stick off the kids this week and I’m sure I’ll get some more on Friday night!"

“Everyone was buzzing when we found out the draw...we’ve got a few Cofi boys in the team at Holyhead, so we are all really excited and looking forward to the occasion. It’s games like this that you play football for."

“Most of the boys who I played with at Caernarfon have left, but I’ve known Fish [Richard Davies] for a long time, he’s a great guy."

"I’m good mates with Osian Evans so we’ve had some banter this week. Obviously Darren Thomas, the Cofi Messi, is brilliant and I’m looking forward to playing against him.” 

The last time these clubs met was in the second round of the 2022-23 Nathaniel MG Cup, when Caernarfon ran out 1-0 winners at The New Stadium - with Iwan Cartwright scoring the winner.

A shock early cup exit on Anglesey would be the last thing Caernarfon boss Richard Davies would want after crashing to Cymru Premier defeats against both Newtown and Aberystwyth - less than a week after beating reigning champions The New Saints.

Caernarfon enter the fray in round two - along with the other top-flight clubs - but last season, their cup run went no further following a defeat to Connah's Quay Nomads.

“It’s mad what a week does in football,” Cory Williams told the FAW's website. “Caernarfon beat TNS last week and we were all a bit nervous, but I think we’re just excited now. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re going to go for it and we’re quietly confident that we can get a result.” 

“I played against Holyhead when I was at Caernarfon and it wasn’t a nice play to go, the wind always seems to be against you!"

“I know they’re bringing a couple of buses from Caernarfon and there will be plenty of Holyhead fans too so that will make it a great tie. The support will be massive for us. We want everyone behind us and hopefully we can cause a little upset.”

Kick off at The New Stadium is at 7.45pm - with full match commentary on MônFM, available on 96.8, 102.1 and 102.5 FM across Anglesey and North Gwynedd, as well as online, on the MônFM App and via smart speaker ('Play MônFM)

The pick of Saturday's local ties sees Ardal North West leaders Porthmadog entertain Cymru North leaders Airbus UK, who have been beaten only once in the league so far this season.

Port reached the last sixteen of last year's competition before going down 2-0 to Buckley Town.

Bangor 1876 - who were given a bye into the second round - start their cup campaign at home to Llay Welfare, while 2017 winners Bala Town entertain Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant at Maes Tegid.

Two more Anglesey teams go to the mainland on Saturday - Llangefni Town visit Denbigh following their 7-1 derby win over Gaerwen in the first round, which saw Josh Stanley Williams grab a hattrick.

Finally, Trearddur Bay make the trip to face Ardal North West rivals Llannefydd.