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However, after edging past Accrington Stanley with the help of a replay in the First Round, and drawing with Peterborough in the second round, Rovers play their fourth match of this seasons competition against the Posh on Tuesday night at Prenton Park.
Each team will be eager to gain a win that will earn them a trip to the Hawthornes in the Third Round, where they will take on struggling Premier League side West Brom.
Peterborough United team profile:
Formed: 1934
Ground:
Manager: Darren Ferguson
Nickname: The Posh
Season Finish 2006/07: 2nd (Coca-Cola League Two)
Previous Meetings:
It's just over a week since the initial Second Round match between these two sides, when a 0-0 draw meant this replay would be played.
Rovers though will perhaps be the most dissapointed to be playing the replay, with Ronnie Moore's side having by far the better chances in the match, and if it wasn't for Posh 'keeper Joe Lewis, Tranmere could well already be in the third round.
The giant 'keeper showed why he has been capped for the England U-21 side, making excellent first half saves from Ian Moore and Gareth Edds, keeping Peterborough in the match, before saving the best for last, as in the final few minutes of the second half, he dived down sharply to his left to save from Tranmere substitute Terry Gornell, who shot from just outside the six yard box.
In a contrast to the league game between the two sides earlier in the season, which finished 2-2, Danny Coyne had very little to do in the match, with Peterborough's best chances being long range efforts, many of which flew high and wide.
Vital Stats:
Last weekends 0-0 draw the only time Peterborough have failed to win in their five previous F.A. Cup encounters with Tranmere
The Posh have won just one of their last fifteen trips to Prenton Park
After Tuesday nights replay, four of the last six matches between these two sides will have been in the F.A. Cup
In 23 home games against Peterborough, Tranmere have picked up twelve wins and draws wins
There have been four previous December meetings between Tranmere and Peterborough, with each side picking up two wins
On This Day:
2006: A Chris Shuker free-kick earns Tranmere a 1-1 draw at Griffin Park against Brentford in League One
2000: John Aldridge's Tranmere pick up a rare league win, beating Grimsby Town 2-0 at Prenton Park
1972: In their most recent F.A. Cup game on this day, Tranmere lost 2-1 to Bradford City at Valley Parade
Rovers have played ten previous matches on this day, picking up three wins, two draws and five defeats, this including two wins and two defeats from four F.A. Cup matches. In these ten matches, they have scored sixteen goals and conceded eighteen.
The Form Book:
Tranmere last six home games: WWDWWW
Peterborough last six away games: WDWWDD
Tranmere Rovers come into this fixture on an excellent run of form at Prenton Park, with Ronnie Moore's side undefeated in their last seven outings on home soil.
In the first match of their six game sequence, Tranmere beat Crewe Alexandra at Prenton Park, defeating the Railwaymen 2-0 in League One, before progressing to the Northern Section semi-final of the Johnstone's Paints Trophy with a 1-0 win over Morecambe.
Ronnie Moore's side then edged past Accrington Stanley in their F.A. Cup first round replay, Chris Shuker netting in front of the Setanta Sports camera's in a 1-0 win for Rovers, before Tranmere drew 2-2 with Southend United two days later at Prenton Park.
Goals from Eddie Sonko and Ryan Shotton then helped Tranmere to an excellent 2-0 win over high-flying Scunthorpe United before in their most recent home game, Tranmere came from behind to beat Leeds United thanks to goals from Antony Kay and Ian Moore.
Other impressive results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include wins over Hartlepool United (1-0) and Northampton Town (4-1).
Tranmere have played ten home league games so far this season, picking up nineteen points from an available 30, thanks to six wins, a draw and three defeats. They have also won four out of four home cup matches.
Notable away results for Tranmere include wins over Leyton Orient (1-0), Carlisle United (2-1) and Huddersfield Town (2-1).
Rovers come into this game in ninth place in the League One table, having picked up 30 an available 57 points in their opening nineteen games, thanks to nine wins, three draws and seven defeats.
Like Tranmere, Peterborough come into this game on a great run of form, with the Posh unbeaten in their last eleven away games, whilst they also come into this match with an unbeaten record at all grounds that stretches back twelve matches.
The Posh started their six match sequence with an exciting 3-3 draw against Carlisle United, Craig MacKail-Smith netting a 90th minute equaliser for Peterborough, before in their next away game Peterborough drew 1-1 with struggling Crewe Alexandra.
Darren Ferguson's side then struggled past Hornchurch in the F.A. Cup first round, MacKail-Smith scoring a 90th minute winner for the League One side, before Aaron McLean scored a first goal in a 1-0 win over Yeovil Town six days later.
In their next away game, Peterborough drew 1-1 with Swindon Town, Batt scoring another 90th minute equaliser, before most recently, Peterborough comfortably beat Stockport County 3-1 at Edgely Park.
Other notable results away from London Road this season for Peterborough include wins over Walsall (2-1) and MK Dons (2-1).
Peterborough have played ten away league games so far this season, picking up sixteen of an available 30 points thanks to four wins, four draws and two defeats, whilst they have also picked up one win and one defeat from two away cup matches.
Impressive results at London Road for the Posh include wins over Leyton Orient (3-0), Leeds United (2-0) and Huddersfield Town (4-0).They come into this game in fourth place in their first season back in League One, having played nineteen games and picked up 36 of an available 57 points, thanks to ten wins, six draws and three defeats.
Double Hit:
Colin Clarke is a former Northern Ireland international striker who represented both Tranmere Rovers and Peterborough United in his career.
Starting his career with Ipswich Town, Clarke failed to make an appearance for the club before moving on to Peterborough in 1981. He stayed with the Posh for three years, making 82 appearances and scoring eighteen times, as well as spending time on loan with Gillingham, before joining Tranmere in 1984.
Lasting just a year with the Rovers, Clarke managed an impressive 22 goals in 45 games, and it was to Tranmere's regret that he didn't stay for longer as he joined Bournemouth in 1985.
Again, Clarke was only with the club for a year, as after moving up from Division Four to Division Three, he netted 26 goals in 46 games and was quickly snapped up by Division One side Southampton.
A three year stay with the Saints saw him net 36 goals in 82 games before he re-joined Bournemouth and then laterly QPR and Portsmouth before retiring in 1993.
A terrific goalscorer, Clarke also scored 13 goals in 38 games for Northern Ireland before he retired from playing to take up coaching in the game he loves.
Indeed, Clarke is still in the game as a coach, and having managed the likes of FC Dallas in the MLS, he now coaches the Puerto Rico national team, as well as Puerto Rican league side the Puerto Rico Islanders.
One To Watch: Craig MacKail-Smith
Peterborough striker Craig MacKail-Smith is the clubs leading scorer so far this season, the 24-year old having netted fifteen goals from 23 appearances so far this season.
Starting his career with non-league Dagenham and Redbridge, now of course a Football League side, striker MacKail-Smith made himself a great reputation for his ability to score goals.
With 38 goals in 108 games for Dagenham, it wasn't going to be long before he was picked up by a Football League club, and indeed in January 2007 MacKail-Smith made the step up to League Two as he joined Peterborough for an undisclosed fee.
Since joining Peterborough, MacKail-Smith has gone from strength to strength as a footballer, forging great partnerships with other Peterborough strikers McLean and Boyd, as well as upping the amount of goals he scores.
He has now played 79 games for the Posh, scoring 42 goals, and whilst he scored against Tranmere earlier in the season, what is most worrying is that he has scored eight goals in six F.A. Cup games for Peterborough, including the winner against Hornchurch in the first round earlier this month.
Fast and direct, the long-blonde haired Peterborough number twelve has an eye for goal and will usually hit the target from inside the penalty area. He likes to drift out to the wing to get the ball and is also more than useful in the air.
The F.A. Cup:
There are five F.A. Cup ties still to be decided, including Tranmre's all League One clash with Peterborough at Prenton Park.
Elsewhere, non-League Blyth Spartans are looking to upset financially struggling League Two side Bournemouth, although this match doesn't take place until December 16th and is live on Television.
Stockport face Gillingham at Edgely Park for the right to host Aston Villa, whilst Chesterfield host Droysledon after the initial match was postponed due to fog.
On Wednesday night, Kettering host Notts County of League Two, another match that is on television, for the right to take on non-League Eastwood.
Team News:
Ronnie Moore is without on-loan right-back John Johnson, who Middlesbrough won't allow to play in the F.A. Cup, whilst centre-midfielder Mark Wilson, on-loan from Doncaster Rovers, is both injured and not allowed to play by Doncaster.
Striker Chris Greenacre will once again miss-out with a back-injury whilst Danny Holmes, who may have played at right-back in Johnson's absense, has a thigh injury.
Craig Curran has returned to training but is not expected to play, whilst Gareth Edds should slot in at right-back in replacement for Johnson and either of Charlie Barnett or Terry Gornell could come into the side as a replacement for Wilson.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 2-1 Peterborough United
Peterborough are a strong League One side, however Tranmere have twice shown this season that they are able to match, if not better the League One new boys.
Despite their strong away form, Peterborough will come to Prenton Park wary of what Tranmere could do to them, as Rovers' recent home form has been excellent.
What has been a probem for Rovers is scoring goals, as they've conceded just three goals in their last seven home matches, so it is important that they begin to hit the target more as they look to finish teams off.
Keeping McLean, Boyd and MacKail-Smith quiet upfront though will be no easy task for Tranmere, and defenders Goodison and Chorley will need to be on the top of their games, whilst Antony Kay and Steve Jennings must also protect the back four.
The result could hinge on what team and formation Ronnie Moore picks. Terry Gornell could replace Wilson and play alongside Bas Savage in a 4-4-2 or Charlie Barnett could come into midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, and although the 4-4-2 may be more attacking for Rovers, Moore is expected to continue with th 4-5-1 as this will provide more defensive cover against Peterborough's numerous attacking options.