Fulham manager Chris Coleman has played down suggestions Watford counterpart Ray Lewington has tried to land a psychological blow ahead of their FA Cup third round replay.

Lewington has positioned the competition behind the Coca-Cola Championship and Carling Cup in his list of priorities - and Coleman understands the reasoning behind his thinking.

"I don't think Ray is trying to play mind games, I understand what he's saying," said the former Welsh international.

"I don't blame him for his comments - Watford have had a great run in the Carling Cup, and that's not over, while the league is most clubs' priority.

"But they won't be taking tonight lightly because if they beat us it will provide them with a big confidence boost for their matches to come.

"Ray will still field his strongest team because I don't think he has a big enough squad to change five or six players anyway."

Watford are engaged in a Carling Cup battle with Liverpool and still have a chance of reaching the Millennium Stadium showpiece after losing the first leg of the semi-final by a solitary goal.

The Championship outfit have knocked out Southampton and Portsmouth in cup action this season so Coleman knows they will have no fear when they run out at Craven Cottage.

"Watford will give us the same challenge they did last time - they won't be overawed," said the Fulham boss, whose side were held 1-1 at Vicarage Road.

"They went to Anfield and gave Liverpool a scare and have already beaten two Premiership clubs in the cup. They also pushed us at Vicarage Road.

"They won't come to Fulham and freeze. It will be a tough game again and we're not underestimating them by any stretch of the imagination - I'll be fielding my strongest team."

Coleman - who welcomes back Andy Cole from suspension - believes the FA Cup allows Fulham fans to relax after watching their side struggle at the wrong end of the Premiership table.

"It's been more anxiety than excitement for our fans this season. I don't want to start looking too far ahead but we're only six points away from the top 10 in the Premiership," he said.

"Two wins and who knows where we'll be. Once we're well away from the relegation places we can start clawing our way up the league and look at the teams above us. There's still plenty of excitement there.

"But the FA Cup has been good for us. We reached the quarters and semis over the last two seasons. It's exciting and a chance for us to get to the final - why can't it be Fulham? That's the beauty of the FA Cup."

Watford manager Ray Lewington has warned Premiership clubs it would take "something spectacular" to prise striker Heidar Helguson away from Vicarage Road.

The Iceland international is likely to be the Hornets' main threat in Wednesday night's FA Cup third-round replay at Fulham.

Helguson has scored 16 goals this season and has been linked with moves to Charlton and Crystal Palace - but Lewington is adamant the 27-year-old will still be at the Championship club when the transfer window closes on January 31.

He scored the equaliser from the penalty spot to ensure the first match between the sides ended 1-1, and struck twice in Watford's 3-1 league win over Crewe at the weekend.

Lewington insisted that Helguson's has not been affected by the speculation.

"Heidar has given no indication that it is bothering him," Lewington added.

"Transfer talk like this starts to worry some players, but he is not one of those."

Watford travel to Craven Cottage full of confidence following their recent performances.

A fine display against Chris Coleman's side was followed by an even better performance in losing 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.

Lewington's men then enjoyed a commanding 3-1 win over Crewe, taking them to 15th in the league.

Lewington continued: "The cup games have picked everyone up a bit.

"Sometimes it is dodgy if you have a cup match against Premiership opposition after a poor performance.

"But we played well against Fulham, played really well against Liverpool and then we were excellent against Crewe."

Manager Lewington can take much of the credit for the improvement, as it coincided with his decision to change his formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1.

"We tried it in the FA Cup third-round against Chelsea last season, and it suited some players better than others," he recalled.

"But I brought it back for the first match against Fulham, because it seemed to suit everyone in that team.

"It gives us flexibility: the two wide players can operate either as wingers or as forwards, and we will be sticking with it in the replay against Fulham."

Lewington is likely to make only one change for the match, with 40-year-old Alec Chamberlain replacing on-loan Paul Jones in goal.

Jones' parent club Wolves do not want to risk him becoming cup-tied - but with first-choice 'keeper Richard Lee still out injured, Lewington revealed he is keen to extend the 37-year-old's loan by another month.

Centre-back Sean Dyche is still out with a groin injury, while on-loan Tottenham midfielder Johnnie Jackson - a second-half substitute against Crewe - is ineligible.