The very prospect of running out at Easter Road on Saturday and going toe-to-toe with the likes of Derek Riordan, Liam Miller and Iain Murray would be enough to have most Junior

players quaking in their boots.

But “Dexy”, part of the 2002 Stranraer side beaten 4-0 by Hibs in a Scottish Cup replay that had followed a 0-0 Stair Park stalemate, is not fazed.

Murray is the only surviving opponent from back then and Dexy recalls the ex-Rangers signing was surrounded by rather more exotic names than nowadays with such as Ecuadorian internationals Ulises De La Cruz and Eduardo Hurtado, Freddie Arpinon and Danish full-back Ulrik Laursen, later of Celtic fame as his team-mates.

He admitted: “Best of the lot though was the striker, Paco Luna. His movement and skill on the ball had to be seen to be believed yet, for all their big names and reputations, we gave Hibs a real fright down at Stranraer before they stepped up a gear and overpowered us in the replay.

“What I do remember most about the Easter Road game was running out to be met by the intimidating sight of their massive new stand jam-packed with Hibs supporters.

“If there’s anything like the same atmosphere generated on Saturday, then it’s going to be an experience Irvine Meadow as a club will savour for years to come.”

One-time Benburb and Pollok defender Dexy also remembers the stirring rallying call by then Stranraer gaffer Billy McLaren just before his team took the field for the replay.

“The Hibs players have got two legs, two arms and a head – same as us – so get out there and don’t be scared of them was Billy’s shout as we left the dressing room,” he grinned.

“And the same applies to this week because if we stand back in awe of our opponents then the result might be embarrassing.

“However, if we do go in 0-0 at the break then who knows what might happen because the one thing for certain is we’ll create a half chance or two and we have strikers in Brian McGinty, John Paul Boyle and Richie Barr who know where the goal is.”

It would be understandable if the latter was that bit more fired up than his Medda team-mates as he will be returning to familiar haunts having enjoyed a three-year playing stint with Hibs.

And there can be no shame attached to his receiving a free transfer given he was competing for forward line jerseys with Riordan, Garry O’Connor and Tam McManus.

The 27-year-old’s scoring the only goal of the game in the last-round success over Arbroath is the reason Medda have this momentous game on their plate and he is determined to get on the scoresheet again.

Dexy said: “Richie is just one of those special players you would put money on to score on the big occasions and even more so when he’s got a point to prove.

“Well, they don’t come much bigger than this week’s game, so here’s hoping he can come up trumps again.”