Mark Daly was convinced he had been a victim of pranksters when he discovered which team Bellshill had landed in the Scottish Cup first round.

For the draw had paired Spud with a Lanarkshire derby against former club Wishaw.

“I couldn’t believe things turning out that way and thought someone was winding me up,” said the experienced defender, who was lured away from the Beltane during the close season by the prospect of playing at Super First Division level.

His had been a mere one-season stint with Wishaw following nine years at the heart of Thorniewood United’s defence.

But that was enough time for Mark to establish himself as an inspirational mainstay out on the pitch as well as a popular character in and around the dressing room.

He insists the good friendships formed won’t become a distraction when he faces down his erstwhile team-mates in Saturday’s showdown.

He said: “Wishaw’s manager Chris McGroarty and his No.2 Glen Weir are terrific guys whom I enjoyed playing under and have no hesitation in wishing them all the best for the season. but that only applies after the final whistle blows on Saturday.

“Of course, I’m looking forward to mixing with the Wishaw guys and seeing a lot of familiar faces, but for 90 minutes I’ll be putting personalities to one side

“Nothing else matters than going out to help Bellshill win this cup game and secure a place in the second round.”

Daly has been playing in an unaccustomed left back slot in recent weeks but insists he is willing to turn out wherever Bellshill team boss David Lilley thinks he is needed.

He added: “Our form has been a bit up and down because of injuries to key players so I’m happy to do a job for the team wherever.

“At least playing full-back means I won’t be directly up against Michael Collinder, who is a very pacy and busy striker capable of giving defenders a hard time of it.

“He’ll need careful watching as will big Ross McGeachie who was at Larkhall Thistle last season and it helps in that respect that Jamie Brophy to be fit again and ready to boost our backline options.”

Bellshill gaffer Lilley hailed the return of Brophy, but owned up to having further selection woes on his plate.

The one-time Kilmarnock ace revealed: "Jamie’s availability is a major plus but a worry remains over our team captain skipper Darren Ferguson, who has been stoically playing with a thigh muscle problem.

“Hopefully he can soldier on yet again, however definitely ruled out of our plans is goalkeeper Mark Peat on account of a medial ligament strain and his absence is a huge blow even though former Pollok and Colville Park No 1 Chris Fitzpatrick has come in and proved to be an able deputy in our last two games.

“And also doing us a real turn by filling a slot down the left flank is young Scott Morton who looks as if he has played as a wide midfielder all his career even though he arrived from Airdrie as a striker.

“We’re having to make do and mend which is far from ideal ahead of facing a Wishaw side who a number of big scalps during various Cup runs last season and we’ll need to be at our best to come through this test.”

Wishaw honed their with a Monday night friendly match against Cumnock that went the way of the Ayrshiremen by a 4-3 scoreline however Chris McGroarty was delighted with his side’s showing.

He said: “It was pleasing to think we probably deserved a draw on the night and the players will take heart from how they competed against another Super First Division outfit.

“There was a lot more to be happy about than not from my perspective and I’m looking forward to see if we can match up with a Bellshill side who were twice convincing winners against us in league games on their way to promotion.

“Admittedly they have a much changed side since following a number of departures but David Lilley has acquired good players including the likes of Mark Daly and Barry McGowan who as everyone knows were on our books last season.

“I’d have loved to keep Spud and Basher hence the reason they were offered contracts but they opted to step up to the higher league and I’m hoping we can show it was the wrong decision come Saturday afternoon.

Another of the six Lanarkshire sides on Cup duty are Lanark United whose manager John Brogan is sweating over the availability of injured goalkeeper Paddy Finnigan (thigh muscle) for this weekend’s trip to meet Crossgates Primrose .

On standby in case the ex-Blantyre Celtic Amateurs No.1 fails to get passed fit is experienced former Kilsyth Rangers shotstopper Michael Dukes who featured as a trialist in last week’s 5-2 defeat of Cambuslang Rangers.