CITY'S FA Cup replay with Millwall has been labelled the "£500,000 match" by Julian Rhodes as Chelsea wait in the wings.

The Valley Parade joint-chairman has calculated that winning through next Wednesday could be worth up to half a million pounds for the club in terms of prize money and their potential share of the Stamford Bridge gate receipts.

Rhodes believes the tie against Chelsea would wipe out the remainder of the club's estimated overspend – and give Phil Parkinson a solid financial base for their continued push towards the play-offs.

City's rise up to fifth in League One was today acknowledged when Parkinson and Rory McArdle were both nominated for awards.

Parkinson is on the short-list for the manager of the month for December after taking ten points from a possible 12. He is up against Swindon's Mark Cooper, Karl Robinson of MK Dons and Scunthorpe boss Mark Robins.

And defender McArdle is in the four-man race to be named the division's player of the month for his part in helping to keep three clean sheets – as well as scoring that cracker against Scunthorpe.

Rhodes stressed that City's improved position would be further cemented by beating Millwall and securing a fourth-round money-spinner against Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders.

He said: "It's very rare you get a game where you know what the prize is at the end of it. It's an enormous occasion and the tension is going to be unbelievable.

"It adds so much spice to the tie itself – all of a sudden playing Millwall ranks up there with some of the great cup nights we've had at Valley Parade.

"It will be even more enjoyable if we win and we'll be doing everything we can."

City are understood to be moving closer in their bid to make Jon Stead the second signing of the week.

He has been back training with Huddersfield but there are positive noises coming out from the on-going talks with the Bantams.

Filipe Morais has already secured his future after agreeing a deal until the summer of 2017 and Parkinson was delighted to tie him down.

He said: "I'm very pleased we got it sorted. Fil's done well for us and I still think there's more to come from him.

"What has impressed me just as much as the way he's played is how he was before he got into the team. Even though he was having to wait for a chance, his attitude was excellent.

"He always kept up his work ethic on the training ground and he was great around the lads.

"It's easy to be like that when you are in the team and doing well. But it shows what a player is really like when they're not involved and are still positive and willing to work hard.

"We are still working on Jon Stead but these things take time. We'd love to be able to get him on board but we'll have to wait and see."

City's away game against Leyton Orient, which was scheduled for last Saturday, has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 17.