Around 48 hours after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Thirroul in the District League, Fernhill will prepare for their next test when they face Dulwich Hill in an Australia Cup fixture at Fraser Park on March 19.

A record number of 18 South Coast teams nominated for the 2024 Australia Cup in February. The nationwide knockout competition - formerly known as the FFA Cup - is held annually, attracting teams from the grassroots level right through to the A-League.

The Foxes are among a strong contingent of Illawarra teams who will be in action in the Cup this week.

Nine local sides will take to the field on Tuesday, while there will also be another six South Coast outfits competing on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Fernhill arguably faces the toughest battle out of the Illawarra clubs, taking to the road to face a NPL NSW2 side on the Marrackville synthethic pitch.

White said there was "no time to dwell" on Sunday's loss as they prepared for the Cup showdown.

"I've said to the boys, if you're not on or prepared for a game this year in the comp, you're going to get rolled. We're looking forward to the short turnaround against a very tough opposition, but the boys are buzzing for it," he told the Mercury.

"We actually had one of our boys play there (Dulwich Hill) in recent years, so he knows a little bit about them. They're a very good opposition who have got three or four Australian Futsal players, so they're going to be quite sharp. But we're looking forward to the challenge, all of the expectations are on them.

"The Cup has grown every year. I believe there's a record amount from the Illawarra,and we're happy to be part of it. We're happy to be involved in it and try to promote the game as much as we can in the Illawarra."

Fernhill are among a crop of Illawarra teams who will be eager to replicate the success of Premier League club Wollongong United in the 2022 Australia Cup.

That year, the Macedonia Park outfit became the first grassroots association team to reach the national round of 32 in the competition.

In 2024, United will host Football NSW League Two Men's side South Coast Flame in their next Cup fixture on Tuesday night.

"They're a really good side and I know that they'll take this pretty seriously," Flame coach Andy Paine.

"We'll approach it slightly differently here at the Flame. Obviously with players coming all the way from SAP (Skills Acquisition Program) to first grade, we've got to focus on player development a bit. And we've always utilised the Australia Cup as a chance to put our youngsters in, and we'll be doing it again this week.

"It will be a very youthful side, but a great experience for those guys. It's exposure to first-grade games, which is what they need if they're going to make that leap."

Tuesday, March 19:

Unanderra v Bonnet Bay at Unanderra Oval; Warilla v Carlton Rovers at King Mickey Park; Wollongong United v South Coast Flame at Macedonia Park; Wollongong Olympic v Hurstville at Penhurst Park; Como Jannali v Albion Park White Eagles at Padstow Park; Bulli v Belmore Eagles at Balls Paddock; Dulwich Hill v Fernhill at Fraser Park; Gerringong v Camden at Ian McLennan Park.

Wednesday, March 20:

Coniston v Prospect United at JJ Kelly Park; Northern Tigers v Shellharbour at Barrack Heights Sports Field; Picton v Northbridge at Wilton Recreational Reserve Field; Cringila v Marrackville at Ian McLennan Park.

Thursday, March 21:

Forest Killarney v South Coast United at Melwood Oval; Albion Park FC v Narellan Rangers at Ian McLennan Park.