Jordan Cook out to win the JPT with Walsall

The 24-year-old is viewing the Northern Area final with Preston as just another stepping stone on the way to the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy at Wembley on March 22.

"The JPT is massive for the club and the fans – we want to give them something extraordinary this season," he said.

"To get where we are in this tournament is brilliant but we don't want to just be happy with this, we want to win it.

"You go into cup games with the aim of winning the trophy at the end."

Cook believes the Saddlers should focus on winning both games in what for many of the team is their first taste of a two-legged cup tie.

"I haven't played in one before professionally, only at youth level," he said. "It is obviously a weird one.

"We are home second and people say that is a benefit but we just want to win both games.

"If you can win both games you will be through and that is what we are looking to do.

"I think it is massively important with the second leg being at home, you want to go and put the pressure on the other team.

"What we are looking to do first and foremost is win the game, that will force Preston to come out and attack us in the second leg.

"And with the way we can counter-attack, it will play into our hands.

"Ultimately we want to win both games and get through as easily as possible."

With a 3-0 win over Milton Keynes Dons last time out on their travels, the Saddlers should have no fear of heading to Deepdale.

Barring a 1-0 replay defeat at Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup, they are unbeaten on their travels since late October.

"It is weird how things work out, you would expect to be better at home.

"But I think because of the way teams put pressure on us, we are better suited to counter-attacking and that means a lot of teams can play into our hands," said Cook.

"We feel we can beat any team in this league. And I think we have shown that with the way we went and beat MK Dons. It's about playing our game and getting the result."