The match would attract a large crowd to the Millennium Stadium

The village side's ground in Llansantffraid does not meet the competition's strict stadium regulations and so the club had always intended to stage the glamorous tie elsewhere.

The Millennium Stadium has by now staged many a memorable international match, FA Cup and League Cup final, but this will be the first European club fixture to be played there.

TNS chairman Mike Harris immediately thought of switching the game to Cardiff once his side had drawn Premiership side Manchester City.

He said he was thrilled to have secured that TNS will be the first Welsh Premier side to play in the magnificent arena.

"This is great news for TNS, the Welsh Premier League and Welsh football as a whole," said Harris.

"Our players and management are really excited at the prospect of playing at the greatest soccer stadium in the UK against one of England's finest teams, managed by a footballing legend like Kevin Keegan.

I'm sure there will be enough interest in the return leg to capture a big crowd at the Millennium Stadium TNS chairman Mike Harris

"As soon as we heard the draw, we knew we had to do something special with our home fixture to do justice to the occasion.

"There could be no better setting that the Millennium Stadium."

Wrexham's Racecourse Ground had been the most likely venue for the match on Thursday, 28 August.

But that option was ruled out because the Wales rugby side are due to play there against Romania the night before.

The Racecourse's capacity would also be reduced to 10,500, and so TNS are hoping to cash-in on Manchester City's huge travelling support by playing at the 72,500 capacity Millennium Stadium.

But the real danger for TNS is that the second leg could be a dead match if Manchester City enjoy a thumping win in the first leg at the City of Manchester Stadium a fortnight earlier.

"We did ask Manchester City if they would consider switching the fixtures around, but they told us they wanted to retain the first leg at their new home," said Harris.

"Nevertheless, I'm sure there will be enough interest in the return leg to capture a big crowd at the Millennium Stadium."

TNS get dream Man City tie

And Harris has challenged Manchester City's fans to prove they support a big club by turning out in their thousands.

"Since the draw was made, I have had numerous calls from City fans asking us to give them a big allocation - well they can't have a bigger one than this," ," Harris added.

"This isn't about money and if I am the only person in the ground then so be it.

"But we keep hearing how many supporters City have got - well let's see them."

The stadium has already proved a happy hunting ground for two of Manchester City's star players.

Striker Robbie Fowler secured himself a place in the stadium's record books by scoring the first ever club goal when Liverpool beat Birmingham City in the 2000 Worthington Cup final.

And new signing David Seaman has won two FA Cup winners medals at Wales' national stadium with Arsenal.