CUP warrior Rory McArdle has Wembley in his sights again – even though he feels tomorrow's winner shouldn't be going there.

The Northern Ireland international will once again be a key component in City's bid to win through one more round and book an amazing return to the national stadium.

But while the prospect of playing at Wembley again will stir the blood at Valley Parade, McArdle admits it should not be the prize for the last four.

He said: "It's great but I don't know if it's right having the semi-finals at Wembley. I understand why they do it for the money but it's a bit strange.

"I used to like watching the old semis at Villa Park and Old Trafford. I always think of that Ryan Giggs goal at Villa Park and running along with his shirt in the air.

"It's a chance to go to Wembley and nobody's complaining. But if you've been there in the semis and then go back in the final, does it take the edge off it a little bit?

"I must sound like a right misery not wanting to get to the semis because they're at Wembley! I don't mean it like that. Obviously you'd like to get to the semi-finals, regardless of where they are going to be held.

"But the atmosphere was incredible when we played at Villa Park (in the Capital One Cup). The fans were right on top of you and it was brilliant. You got to Wembley and the final all in that one moment.

"I've been fortunate for the experiences I've had. For any fan to get down to Wembley is special, whatever round it is, but I don't think it's quite the same."

McArdle can see the similarities in City's current FA Cup run to the magic of 2013. But there has been one notable difference – the winning margins and performances have been more emphatic.

Their progress two seasons ago was built on the drama of penalty shoot-outs and hanging on against the odds. The rock-solid defender has felt more comfortable this time around.

He said: "The results have been a lot more convincing than the League Cup. Think back to the Wigan game that year, when they still had decent chances that should have been put away.

"Dukey (Matt Duke) made some unbelievable saves – but then you look at Chelsea and Ben (Williams) didn't really have much to do.

"I know Chelsea were 2-0 up but it wasn't as if we were under the cosh for 40 minutes and sneaked one on the counter.

"It was the same with the Sunderland game. They had a bit of a spell but there was never a moment when we thought 'here we go again'."

City's toughest test up to now was arguably their first one at neighbours Halifax, when they fell behind after just two minutes.

McArdle was on the bench that day after a red card a fortnight earlier at Oldham but was summoned to deal with a late Alamo from the non-League side.

He said: "It was a big derby for Halifax and they were throwing the kitchen sink at us towards the end. It wasn't the ideal game to come back in.

"But if you'd said afterwards that we'd be sat here now with a quarter-final at home to come, nobody would have believed it. The fact we're a game away from Wembley and two from the final is quite daunting."

Not that McArdle is looking any further than Steve Clarke's Reading – opponents who he believes could prove to be the most dangerous.

He said: "They were a solid Premier League club not so long ago and have still got a lot of quality in the team. They're going to be striving to get to Wembley just as much as we are.

"Their manager has coached at the highest level with arguably some of the best players in the world at Chelsea. He knows what to expect with the knowledge he's got.

"It is one of the better draws we could have had – but on the flipside, it's also one of the worst. Everybody is expecting us to win but it's going to be a massively tough game."