Cup runs could provide a huge confidence and financial boost for Stevenage's hopes of promotion from League Two - but manager Steve Evans is well aware that those hopes could go in smoke with a poor performance against Gateshead.

Boro sit second in the fourth division and will play Charlton Athletic in round three of the league cup on Tuesday.

With progression in the Papa John's Trophy also secured, they get the chance on Saturday to make it three cup runs by getting victory in the FA Cup at the Gateshead International Stadium.

"I love the cups," said Evans. "We have the FA Cup on Saturday and the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, plus the Papa John’s draw to come so it’s three exciting competitions to be in.

"And where you go in them can often define your season, whether it is additional funds for the club or the feeling you get in the camp and the chance to play the top-level clubs.

"That’s a great feeling and the only way we can make that happen is by getting a positive result.

"We had a good day of training on Monday and some of the lads played a training game against Luton on Tuesday.

"But it is FA Cup week and it doesn’t matter whether you’re the manager of Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea or the manager of the lowest-ranked club left in, it’s FA Cup and there is magic in the FA Cup."

He got to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Tynesiders on Tuesday night in a National League clash at Chesterfield.

And that only affirmed what he already knew.

He said: "They are a decent side. Mike Williamson is a young man who has played against my teams in the past and he has done a good job.

"He has some talented boys and they lost the game 2-1 and perhaps were a shade fortunate because they met a really good and big funded Chesterfield team.

"But I am more interested in the games they drew with Solihull and with Notts County.

"Chesterfield, Solihull and Notts County could all be comfortably in the top end of League Two so that tells you the challenge we face."

And he says that if he was in charge of Gateshead, or a fan, he would be looking at the game believing they could win.

"There’s only one league difference," said Evans. "If we play a club from League One at home, people will think Stevenage should win.

"So if you are in the National League, why can’t you think you’ll beat a League Two club.

"We were very fortunate, myself and Paul [Raynor], to have been at many clubs who have taken a scalp from higher up and we know what it means, how it feels and what it takes to do it.

"And we have no doubt that young Mike and his staff and his players will be thinking that on Saturday.

"All we can ask is the referee gets the decisions right, for and against us, and that there isn't a 90-mile-per-hour wind coming down the pitch, which can change the game.

"But in reality, we have to be good enough to beat Gateshead and we will have to be at our best.

"This isn’t like the Papa John’s where we’ll make nine changes and play a system we’re not used to; we’re going there to win."