"Having that 90 minutes under his belt was more like [playing] two games," Francis said.
As they play in different competitions, Francis knows little about United AFC other than the black-and-white data of their results.
In their 10-team Premiership, United AFC currently sit fourth place with a 4-3 record, and accordingly have a slightly positive differential from 16 goals scored and 13 conceded.
They played GJ Gardner Wanganui Athletic in a preseason match at Wembley Park, where local Marist players had to fill out their roster, and drew 3-3, before Athletic played a return away match and rolled them.
Today notwithstanding, last weekend United also picked up a comfortable 4-0 win, in their case against seventh-placed Western Rangers in the Premiership, with Brad Perks getting two goals while Hamish Lewis and James Harris also put their names on the sheet.
Francis has knowledge of former Wanganui Athletic club member Joshua Tyson in the middle of the park, while he understands they have some pace out wide.
The objective will be to "sit" for the first 15 minutes until they get a sense of what United can do, and then respond accordingly.
"If there's an opportunity to maybe tighten up the shape, and put the pressure on them [and] make it a little easier, we'll do that," said Francis.
"Cup football is a different beast."
Francis can also recall previous trips to Napier where they had to play through until penalty shootouts in consecutive Cup rounds – winning the first and losing the second.
"The boys have been practicing penalties, but we'll do our best and try to finish it in 90 minutes."
City were also able to take advantage of their Cooks Gardens training venue being given a manicure and paint job, as the WRFU was preparing for the Town vs Country trial game last night.
Francis joked he didn't have to put out as many cones because the team could use the clearly marked lines.
"Had a couple of good sessions at Cooks, the grass has been nice and short, after it was a bit overgrown in recent weeks."
Meanwhile, Wanganui Athletic will not play their rain-postponed match with Federation League frontrunners North End AFC today, after all matches in Palmerston North were canned by weather last weekend.
Coach Jason King said are still discussions to be had about playing the match on another date, rather than the now-scheduled August 4 at the end of the League season.
However, there is not yet agreement on that and if Athletic can hit a purple patch in the second round, specifically by beating current leaders Palmerston North Marist, then playing North End on consecutive weekends, home and away, could mathematically decide the title.
"It could make it very interesting, but at the same time, weekends off football are not good," said King.
Athletic were beginning to warm up after drawing with Marist and thumping Red Sox, but now will have had a fortnight without football, before taking on a match fit City next weekend in the always-challenging derby game.
King will make good use of his spare afternoon by taking the notebook down to Wembley Park to watch GJ Gardner Wanganui Athletic Reserves face Eltham AFC today at 2pm, taking notes on any players who could be ready to step up to the Athletic 1sts if needed.
In a correction from Monday's football wrap up, the GR Engineering Women's Federation League matches that were not in Palmerston North did go ahead as scheduled last Sunday.
Football Whanganui made the long trip to the Hawke's Bay to face Taradale AFC on Sunday and lost 5-2.
An early own-goal by Taradale gave the visitors the start they wanted, but Taradale regained composure to put three away and lead 3-1 at halftime.
Football Whanganui found the back of the net themselves in the second half, but conceded two more goals for Taradale to pull away from them in fourth spot on the five team ladder.
