Durham Women FC is set to face one of their biggest foes to date and the current leader of the Barclays Women’s Super League - Manchester United - in a match this Sunday. 

The match, to be played at Manchester United's home ground in the Leigh Sports Village, is the fifth round of the Vitality Women's FA Cup. 

The Durham team are the last North East club left in the tournament, leaving them "proud to represent the region" in the prestigious competition.

The Durham Women FC team - known as the Wildcats - will battle Manchester United on Sunday, February 26, with a 12 pm kick-off. Having beaten the WSL leaders in previous matches, the team are determined to "do our best to match them."

The Northern Echo: DWFC attribute many of their successes to their 'underdog spirit'. DWFC attribute many of their successes to their 'underdog spirit'. (Image: Durham Women FC)

Read more: Sue ‘chips in’ for the NHS as she makes history at golf club

A busload of loyal Wildcats supporters will travel to the North West to support their team from the South Stand of the sport village. 

Midfielder Beth Hepple said: "Their support is like the twelfth man. It is crazy that they follow 'little Durham'  around the country. That underdog mentality does give you that extra boost."

DWFC, which only went full-time this year, has had a fair amount of success when coming up against the Red Devils in the past.

In 2018, DWFC was the only team unbeaten by Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Championship season with a 3-1 victory over The Red Devils at New Ferens Park.

Read more: Durham sign forward from Black Cats

However, players are not resting on their laurels ahead of the match. Lee Sanders, the club's Head of Football, said: "We're expecting a different challenge altogether.

"Our playing budgets and salaries are like chalk and cheese, but ultimately we can compete against sides with much bigger budgets. 

"We have to raise our game and step up."

Despite their self-confessed status as "little Durham", a longstanding agreement with the city's university gives the team access to a range of state-of-the-art facilities, meaning the team "wants for nothing". 

Read next:

Crown Pub in Middlesbrough bought by council for £750k

Rowland's Gill construction company fined £320,000

The Northern Echo: Players 'want for nothing' when it comes to facilities, due to the club's connection with Durham University. Players 'want for nothing' when it comes to facilities, due to the club's connection with Durham University. (Image: DWFC)

Lee said: "You could argue we have the brightest team in the league, with so many of our players getting masters and PhD degrees."

Captain Sarah Wilson, one of Durham's longest-serving players, said: "I wouldn't go as far as calling us MU's bogey team, but we have had some fantastic results against them in the past. 

"We have a good record against some of the bigger teams, but we are going to focus on ourselves. We've grown and shown that money isn't everything.

"It is going to be a huge challenge at their ground with their fans. We'll do our best to match them.

Get more from The Northern Echo. Save 20% on a Premium Plus digital subscription this month. 

"A coach load of fans are making their way down to support us.

"We really appreciate them everywhere they travel, especially as on Sunday there will be a lot of Manchester United fans out for blood!"

Durham Women’s trip to Manchester United in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup has been selected for live broadcast - and DWFC supporters can watch the match on the FA Player app if they are unable to make the trip to the Manchester stadium.