Ben Whiteman says Rovers are taking the Emirates FA Cup very seriously as they prepare to travel to Gillingham on Sunday.
Rovers welcomed Crystal Palace to the Keepmoat Stadium last season after a brilliant run to the fifth round and Whiteman wants another chance to face Premier League.
“It’s the oldest competition in the world,” he said.
“We want to progress and hopefully draw a big team. Like you saw last season when we played Crystal Palace, we gave it a good go but their quality in the first half showed why they’re premier league players.
“It was really enjoyable to test yourself against them.”
Whiteman will be going up against his former manager Steve Evans on Sunday – the pair met Evans brought Whiteman to the League Two outfit on loan.
“Going into Mansfield – looking back now it was pretty much make or break,” Whiteman added.
“I only had a year left on my contract at Sheffield United and I wasn’t going to play in that team. I’d accepted that and I needed to go out an impress – luckily I did that at Mansfield and I can’t thank Steve Evans enough for that.
“You see him on the side lines and he’s very outgoing with his actions – you see it as a fan and an opposing player but they were different class with me during my time at Mansfield, they gave me a chance in the football league.”
