POLLOK manager Jim Sinnet is facing up to his first real challenge since taking over at Newlandsfield during the summer.

Last weekend's 1-1 Scottish Cup stalemate against Spartans was, he conceded, their worst performance of the season.

If truth be told, the West Region leading lights can count themselves fortunate to still retain an interest in the cup after their opponents passed up a number of late chances.

Yet, while Lok supporters struggle to contain their disappointment over a result that has landed them with a daunting trek east for Saturday's replay, Sinbad believes his players can come good at the second time of asking.

He admitted: "There were a lot of things not to my liking in last week's game that we simply need to put right this time around. Do that and I'm optimistic about our chances, even though City Park has proven a tough place for bigger teams than us on cup occasions.

"If I come across as confident then it's only because I know we are capable of a massive improvement, whereas Spartans by all accounts played above themselves in forcing a fully- merited draw at Newlandsfield.

"And, quite honestly, there can be no excuses for coming up short again, given we will have had fully 180 minutes to get the better of them."

The Lok boss is keeping team plans close to his chest, however he hinted strongly at one or two selection tweaks when looking ahead to this week's replay.

"We badly missed Stevie Miller's midfield bite last time so Becksy is very much in our thoughts, as is Andy McLay, whose introduction as a second- half substitute supplied some much-needed composure on the ball.

"That said, we could just as easily go with the same starting eleven as there is no way certain players can perform so badly again.

"I've heard nerves got to some of the lads and that I cannot fathom because, with one or two exceptions, this is the same Pollok squad that took part in front of even bigger crowds against Montrose last season."

Midfield dynamo McLay is equally convinced he and his team-mates will give a better showing of themselves through in Edinburgh.

"We have taken a fair bit of stick for not managing to play as well as we can therefore it is up to us to do better.

"But, in much the same way as the lads were not carried away in thinking we were the finished article after our good start to the season, neither are we a poor team on the back of one result.

"I'm sure we will raise our game but it won't be easy as Spartans are nobody's push-overs particularly on their own City Park turf."

The 35-year-old speaks from experience as he was previously in a Clyde team that scraped a 1-1 draw at City Park, prior to notching up a resounding 5-0 replay victory at Broadwood.

"Spartans are a decent side with a great cup tradition and will come out with all guns blazing as they normally do in front of their own supporters.

"They have quality players but we are now better prepared for dealing with their threat after seeing them at close quarters at Newlandsfield.

"By comparison they will have learned very little about our star turns and that surprise element might well work in our favour.

"Hopefully I'll be involved as I felt good coming on last week even though it was my first outing for over a month because of a knee ligament problem."

Meanwhile, the Ardagh Glass Cup Final between Irvine Meadow and Lugar Boswell has been put back a fortnight from its original date of Sunday, October 12.

West Region chiefs opted to delay the showpiece on hearing sponsors Ardagh's managing director Michael Leahy would be unavailable to attend on that day.

Meadow Park will still host the finale which now goes ahead on October 26 at the slightly earlier kick-off time of 2pm.