But instead of being inspired by the prospect of a local derby with Eastwood and, potentially, a lucrative clash against one of the Premiership big boys in Round Four, Ian McParland's side froze in-front of the Setanta TV Cameras, producing arguably their worst display of the season.
Notts, who have now been knocked out of the World's Oldest Club competition by non-league sides in consecutive years, were unable to take the opportunity given to them and it's hard to find inspiration for supporters who are deserting Meadow Lane in growing numbers season on season.
Despite taking an undeserved lead through a Jay Smith cracker late in the first half, McParland's men failed to cash-in on their one moment of quality in the game and succumbed to two quick-fire second half goals from Brett Solkhon and Gareth Seddon.
Lacking imagination both on the pitch and on the bench, Notts never truly looked like getting back into the game after Seddon's 54th minute winner and it will now be Mark Cooper's Conference side who will host an undoubtedly disappointed Eastwood side in early January.
On a rare occasion for both sides to play in-front of a nationwide audience, neither set of players were doing much to showcase the talents of Division's Four and Five of the footballing ladder.
Notts were the better of the two, marginally, in the first 20 minutes and their best chance came when Matt Hamshaw - back in the line-up after three games missing through injury - saw his toe-poked effort headed off the line after a scuffed Delroy Facey cutback.
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With the visitors looking increasingly vulnerable to defending set-pieces, Smith was required to clear off-the-line from a Seddon header, while custodian Russell Hoult saved smartly a low strike from Craig Westcarr, with the former Forest striker surely feeling he should have done better.
In a quite horrendous midfield, Smith was the shining light - holding it together practically alone at times - and the midfielder produced Notts' moment of the game in the 43rd minute.
Exchanging passes with Myles Weston, the 27-year-old struck a rasping 25-yard drive that flew past Lee Harper in the home goal via the underside of the bar.
It was a moment of genuine class in a match that had been badly lacking quality prior to it and it does nothing for the credibility of McParland - starting to come under genuine pressure for the first time in his 14th month reign - that it came from a man who hasn't even always made the bench for parts of this campaign.
Though travelling fans hoped that the undeserved lead which the Magpies took to the interval would revitalise their side in much the same way it did in the weekend's 1-0 success over Morecambe, Notts were unable to build on Smith's wonder-strike and Kettering were deservedly level within seven minutes of the restart.
Throughout the game, Notts seemed unable to deal with highly-rated Exodus Geohagon's mammouth throws and, as one of these said throw-ins was headed back to the defender, his curled cross was headed emphatically into the roof of the net by Solkhon.
The Magpies luck had ran out and things were getting a lot worse. Badly lacking cohesion, they were to find themselves behind just two minutes later.
A neat interchange of passes led to a neat Westcarr lay-off which Seddon drove through the legs of a badly out-of-sorts captain Mike Edwards and past Hoult from 20 yards.
Notts fans hoped for inspiration but it was the home side who continued to look the more likely scorers, Hamshaw clearing off the line from Guy Branston and Hoult denying Solkhon his second from a powerful drive that lacked accuracy.
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The much-vaunted passing style that we prided ourselves on earlier in the season was nowhere to be seen. Long balls - even to big men Facey and the woefully off-the-pace Sean Canham - were gobbled up with ease by Branston and Geohaghon.
Notts were unable to keep the ball and were undoubtedly panicked. McParland's substitutions were predictable and unimaginative, Jamie Forrester replacing Canham and, later, Spencer Weir-Daley brought on for Hamshaw in straight swaps.
The Magpies were unable to keep the ball with the few passing moves invariably ending with long, diagonal aimless balls from either Edwards or his central defensive partner, Steven Hunt.
The only chance mustered up was via a decent bit of improvisation from Facey, though his self-worked overhead kick went wide of Harper's left-hand upright.
Though it's always said that the hectic Christmas period is of huge importance, this is now particularly to be said of McParland's side.
They have squandered an unbudgeted opportunity for the club to cash-in at a time when, due to performances on the pitch over previous seasons, attendances are getting smaller every week.
This season offered hope for fans, with former players in charge and an attractive style of play on offer, but Notts have taken huge strides backwards since their last televised appearence at home to Brentford two months ago, for example.
The 4-4-2, winger-orientated style of play, is easy on the eye on occasion but Notts are crying out for a Plan B and McParland now has to prove he has it. In the first half in particular tonight Notts were crying out for either one of the wide-men to tuck-in or one of the front pairing to play deeper in a bid to support a midfield that was being over-run.
It can only be assumed that Gavin Strachan and Adam Nowland - both named on the bench - were unfit as the inexperienced on-loan Nathaniel Wedderburn needed taking out of the firing line, or given shielding from a more senior performer.
However he deems fit though, McParland and his coaching team need to get his side performing for the Christmas period, starting with the weekend's trip to Chester, as supporters are beginning to lose faith.
His post-match interview - claiming Notts were unfortunate to lose - doesn't do him any favours and he must face the realisation that his team were badly outplayed by a bunch of players either on their way out or not deemed yet good enough for the full-time professional Divisions.
Notts need leadership. McParland has made mistakes, and that is to be expected in his first managerial role, but he now has to start learning from them and ensure that this season doesn't fritter into insignificance or, worst still, yet another relegation battle.
Individual Match Ratings will appear on NCM tomorrow.