Micky Mellon has urged his Oldham Athletic players to go and challenge themselves in the FA Cup, again.

Latics overcame League Two opposition in knocking Mellon's former club, Tranmere Rovers, out of the first round, earning a tie at Leyton Orient.

This weekend's game provides another step up in terms of the level they face. But manager Mellon feels it will be another good marker for a team that is looking for promotion back to the Football League at the third attempt.

"It will be a really tough game, League One's a big step up," said the Scot.

"I understand that because I've done the levels, so we know we're going to have to bring the best version of ourselves to go and represent the club properly again.

"It's a great opportunity for us to go and see where we're up to as a team.

"League One's a big step up, make no mistake about that, regardless of where Leyton Orient are in the league it's a big step up for us, and we'll get the opportunity to see where we are as a team.

"We'll go and give it everything we've got, we'll certainly go and attack it and try to win, that's the type of team that we are.

"We're going to try to win the game, but we know it's a very difficult game, but we'll make it difficult for them as well because we've got some really talented players, so we'll look forward to it."

The tie reunites Latics with their former player and manager, now manager of Leyton Orient, Richie Wellens, who Mellon has had connections with over the years, as player, manager and parent - with their sons, Michael Mellon and Charlie Wellens, forging their own careers in the game. Indeed, Charlie Wellens had a loan spell with Latics the season before last.

"I know Richie very well, I've managed Richie. I like Richie," said Mellon, who was Wellens' boss at Shrewsbury Town in 2016.

"Our sons grew up playing together as well at Man United. I've known him a long time, and played against him myself as well, which probably makes us feel old.

"It will be nice to go down there but the two of us will want to win, so let's get it on when the time's right."

Latics have sold more than 1,100 of their allocation at Brisbane Road and Mellon added: "We'll have a big following again, which we never take for granted so we're delighted that we've got a big following going down there, and we can go and have a right good go at it.

"We felt we had to get the result tonight and not go down there looking at anything else. The players deserve to go down there and have a right good go at it and we'll see where it takes us."