De Amicis has led NPL Victoria 2 club Moreland Zebras into the FFA Cup quarter-finals.

No third division side, two levels below the A-League, has ever reached the final eight.

For the 51-year-old, who starred for Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne in the 1990s and 2000s, Moreland's Cup run as been a fairytale.

"It’s been a wonderful experience for the club," he told FTBL.

"It’s been exciting in the dressing room, exciting for the club and for the supporters. We’re enjoying it, it’s been good fun. The players are really looking forward to each game.

"To come where we have is a great achievement by all at the club, especially the boys that go out on the park."

The Zebras reached the quarter-finals after knocking off NPL Queensland club Magpies Crusaders.

"They had to travel. It wasn’t any easy task for them," De Amicis said.

"At the end of the day it could have been the other way round. They’re a good team. I think we both enjoyed the occasion. We just needed to do a job on the night."

That victory booked a clash with Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park tonight.

De Amicis, who won grand finals in 1995 and 1996 with the Knights and in 1998 and 1999 with South, is full of praise for his young squad.

"95% of the players I have could easily play in the NPL 1 here in Victoria," he said.

"I’m very fortunate. The fact that we are the lowiest ranked team in the Cup, but the players have qualities that would mean they could easily play for any other team in the NPL. I’ve no doubt about that.

"I remember the Strikers in the old NSL days. I’ve no doubt that we’re up against a formidable side, a good footballing-playing squad. They’ll certainly have the goods right across the park.

"We’re under no illusion that we’re going to be up for a game, but we’re really looking forward to the challenge. We have experienced players, smart players, intelligent players that we will be prepared for the occasion.

"I don’t think we will be overawed by the occasion, they’ll just look forward to it."

De Amicis, who has in his third year as head coach at CB Smith Reserve, is Moreland to the core.

The defender started his career there as a teenager, at what was then Brunswick Juventus, before signing for Melbourne Knights in 1992.

"I played there for 14 years until I transferred to Melbourne Croatia," he explained.

"All my development was at Moreland Zebras, which at the time was Brunswick Juventus, that was my first-ever club, the first ever trophy I received was at Juventus at the time. The people that are there I know very well, they know me.

"It’s always to come back and give as mych as you can. This is my third year now, it’s been good. I’ve got great people behind me."

De Amicis went on to have a great career in the NSL and earn his debut for the Socceroos in 1998.

After hanging up his boots in 2005, he has served as an assistant coach at Richmond and coached the reserves at Bulleen Lions.

At the Zebras the 51-year-old, who played under Ange Postecoglou, has employed a possession-based, attacking-focused playing style and has been unafraid to blood young players such as 17-year-old Lucien Ibanda.

"It’s something I’ve really installed into the players is to keep the ball as much as we can and enjoy the football," he said.

"We want to attack, keep the ball and keep moving it around. We've been using some 19-year-old wingers. I give them an opportunity, you need to make the right rotations. As long as they understand what the team rules are.

"These boys fit the mould. I encourage them to play the ball. Lucien - he’s a great boy. He’s got a very clean head, likes to play football. He positions himself well, watches the game well. I’ve played him as a right back and he’s fitted in very well.

"He's showed a lot of professionalism, a lot of maturity."

With a second-division competition beneath the A-League on the cards for Australian football, De Amicis would cherish the chance to be a part of it.

"Absolutely, I enjoy it. I don’t do it for the money because there’s no money to be made here in Australia," he admitted.

"You do it because you love being there. I like putting on the sessions, seeing development, seeing the players progress and seeing your philosophy work through.

"Of course, there’s a lot of coaches and ex-players that I’m in contact with, that I played with, I think we’ve got a lot to offer. If it eventuates and there’s a B-League I’d certainly love to be part of it. We’ll just see how things pan out in the near future."

But for now De Amicis has his eyes firmly on Moreland springing another Cup shock and reaching the semi-finals.

It would be some feat for the plucky club from Fawkner.

"If we reach the semis maybe I’ll have a contract for another year," he joked.

"To be honest, the fact we’ve reached so far has been tremendous. The club is over the moon. It’s a club with a great tradition and I played for it for a very long time.

"I played for the club for 14 years starting as a junior, from 1978, so I remember the black and white days, and the grey days back then. The club has been around for 71 years so it would mean a lot.

"Obviously they haven’t been at the greatest heights for quite a long time, so the fact we have reached so far is a fantastic stepping stone for the club and it’s headed in a really good way.

"We’ve got a beautiful junior development set-up, kids want to come and play, and this exposure is great for the club. It’s fantastic, it’s great. When you’re there you just cherish every moment because you might not be there next year.

"Things might no go your way. So now that we’re there we’re enjoying this trip away. Hopefully we can put on a show and if we were to reach the semi-finals, then I’m likely guaranteed the job for another year.

"It would be a great fairytale for football. We would like to create our own little bit of history. We’ve come so far, let’s just keep on going – that’s what I say to the players."