Yan Klukowski will be hoping for no tricks and plenty of treats when he takes Forest Green Rovers back to Luton Town for the second time in 12 months in the FA Cup.

Klukowski, who is part of Forest Green’s interim management trio alongside Josh Bowen and Jonathan Gould following Robbie Savage’s departure, watched last season’s encounter from home with his two young children. Having taken them trick-or-treating that Friday evening, the family returned home to watch Forest Green’s remarkable comeback from three goals down, only for Rovers to suffer a late defeat.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Klukowski recalled: “For two young kids watching the game, it was a hell of a football match. Obviously we started the game pretty slowly and we were 3-0 down, but the players responded impeccably well. They played with real energy and desire in the second half to get it back to 3-3.

“Probably could and should have won it with some of the late chances that a few of the lads had, and then unfortunately got done with a sucker punch at the end.

“So, yeah, it was a really exciting game. Hopefully it can be another exciting one on Saturday, but we’re on the right end of it this time.”

There have been plenty of changes at both clubs since that encounter, with Forest Green now preparing to face a Luton side managed by former England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Klukowski knows his players will have to be at their best to compete against the League One outift.

“We know Luton poses a significant challenge to us on Saturday. I think they’re one defeat in nine games, with seven victories within those nine games, playing some excellent football.

“They’ve certainly got a very strong midfield, so we know there are going to be periods of the game where we’re going to have to be without the ball and be compact and solid.

“It’s up to us to deliver that game plan again, but then make sure that we use our attacking weapons to try and hurt Luton when we can.”

Klukowski believes last weekend’s performance against Harrogate Town will have provided valuable preparation for the challenge.

He said: “I thought Harrogate were one of the best sides we’ve played this season. I thought we coped for 90 per cent of the game with a lot of what they threw at us, but also I thought we showcased what we can do in possession.

“We have to impose our style on Luton as well. The game plan is probably going to be around protecting certain areas and making sure we deal with their top threats.

“But we’re confident that we’ve got good attacking players and good structure behind the ball where we can be competitive in the game.”

He also paid tribute to Wilshere, who has made an impressive start to life at Kenilworth Road.

“I think he’s proved he’s one of the young coaches with high potential in the game and he’s obviously going to have a bright future,” Klukowski said.

“The way his team play, the results that they’ve picked up, highlight and demonstrate the qualities he has as an individual and the staff that he has around him at Luton.

“Our staff here are looking forward to that challenge. As we had the challenge against Harrogate with the way they played and set up, it was very much a good chess match tactically.

“We know it’s going to be another one of those games where, if our in-game management and analysis isn’t to a high level, they could potentially hurt us.”

Klukowski also singled out Luton’s attacking threat, including striker Nahki Wells.

“He’s got good pace, clever movement, understands when to join in and link play. They’ve got top players all over the pitch and we’re going to have to produce one of our better performances again, like we did against Harrogate, to be competitive in the game and hopefully get over the line.”

There will be no experimenting with the Forest Green starting XI, with Klukowski confirming Rovers intend to take a strong side to Bedfordshire for this first round test.

“I don’t think it’s a game where we want to experiment. We want to go as strong as possible.

“We’re slowly building some momentum with how we’re playing. I think there’s slow improvements every game as we’re implementing some new ideas into the way the team’s playing and in the structure without the ball.

“So, yeah, we’ll be going as strong as possible.”

The FA Cup also offers the possibility of a lucrative third-round tie against one of the country’s biggest clubs, with Rovers potentially just two victories away.

Klukowski said: “It’s the greatest domestic cup competition in the world, isn’t it? The FA Cup naturally brings that excitement.

“You’re potentially two victories away from the third round and pulling one of the real big boys, but we know and have no illusions about how difficult this game is going to be on Saturday.

“There’s a real excitement. Luton Town are a huge football club themselves. I’ve played and enjoyed many experiences at Kenilworth Road and their crowd will be buoyant off the back of them being in good form.

“It’s going to be a great game for our players, a real opportunity to test themselves against high-level opposition.”

Asked what it would mean to pull off an FA Cup upset, Klukowski said: “It would be a great moment. Every year in the FA Cup there are teams that cause huge shocks.

“I think this would be a shock if we were to beat Luton Town. One of those FA Cup stories and FA Cup dreams of a lower-level side beating one of the big boys.

“We approach it knowing the difficulties and the challenges we’re going to face, but we have to go in with real belief and an understanding of what our attacking weapons are, how we need to set up defensively to make sure that, for periods of the game, we stay in the game and also take those opportunities when they come to try to hurt them.”

Klukowski also provided an update on team news, revealing that goalkeeper Luke McNicholas is likely to require surgery after suffering a knee injury against Harrogate.

“Sadly for Luke McNicholas, he’s got a knee injury which looks like it’s going to require surgery.

“He slid out midway or in the latter part of the second half and damaged his meniscus. He’s got a bucket-tear in his meniscus, so he’s going to have to have surgery.

“We were actually devastated for Luke. He’s been a consummate professional. He’s had to be really patient and wait for his opportunity, which he took.

“We obviously showed that belief in him to keep him in the side after the FA Cup fixtures, so we’re really disappointed for Luke. He’s not had the greatest luck since coming to the football club, but we wish him well for that surgery and on the path of his recovery.”

Ethan Ross is ready to step back into the starting line-up.

“The benefit of having two number one goalkeepers is that Ethan’s produced some magnificent saves in the games he’s played in the early parts of the season.

“I really like how he’s trained over the last seven to 10 days in terms of supporting Luke, but also making sure that he’s really sharp with his goalkeeping and the technical elements of that.

“He’s ready. He’s not rusty and we’re looking forward to having Ethan back in the side.”

Sean Etaluku is also available again after serving a suspension for five yellow cards.

“Five yellow cards, so probably a learning curve for him,” Klukowski said.

“But we’re delighted to welcome Sean back. We understand what he offers to the team and the squad – that electric pace, that ability to threaten in behind and his wonderful ball-carrying ability.

“We certainly missed his style of play against Harrogate. We felt that he could certainly have hurt them in transition with how expansive and open they are.

“But we still had some top performances from other players who started that fixture and lads who came on. We welcome Sean back with open arms and look forward to seeing him play.”

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