SHETTLESTON star turn Rikky McIntosh insists he and his team-mates are not fearing this week’s trip down to Valefield for their played to a finish Scottish Cup second-round replay clash against Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Bookmakers are clearly attaching extra significance to the Ayrshiremen salvaging a 1-1 draw in the Greenfield Park first meeting of the clubs judging by the Blasties being installed as outright favourites to come good, however a defiant McIntosh scoffed at his side’s underdogs rating.

He said: “Kilbirnie’s line-up is top notch as you might expect from a club that has laid out big money to bring in a number of ex-Seniors but I felt we more than held our own over the ninety.

“Admittedly we looked second best for much of the first half but tweaking our formation to drop me deeper with the responsibility to stick close to the former Albion Rovers player Ciaran Donnelly helped us dominate large swathes of the second 45 minutes.

“Donnelly had been massively influential alongside Kilbirnie’s tidy playmaker Davie Anderson but cutting down their space along with Jordan Dalzell getting in their faces certainly did the trick and we went on to be well worth our late equaliser.

“It leaves everything to play for at Valefield and they will undoubtedly fancy their chances after recently handing out a 3-0 battering in a league game down there, however lessons have been learned and if we can start as we finished last weekend then who knows what can happen?”

The versatile 22-year-old revealed Town gaffer Hugh Kelly will be posted missing for the replay joust after a family bereavement led to him flying out to South Africa this week' however Rikky reckons he will still be pulling the strings from afar.

He added: “Nobody can second guess Shug and he will keep everyone on their toes by keeping his starting line-up under wraps until late in the week ... possibly until a Saturday morning phone call.

“A recall for Chrissy McCormack or Brian McEwan could be on the cards but what’s more important is the players he chooses have to produce the same level of performance on our travels that has served us so well at home.

“Anything less and we could be in for a hard time of it.”

Word on the team front reckons Kilbirnie full-back Matty Bennet is an injury concern with a back muscle strain while midfield goalscorer Darren Miller sat out Monday night’s training session as a precautionary measure according to Blasties boss Stevie Swift.

He revealed: “Darren should be alright by tonight and while Matty remains doubtful, I fancy he will declare himself ready for the fray once adrenalin kicks in come Saturday.

“We need all hands to the pump because facing Shettleston is the first of three games that will shape our season with Petershill up next in a vital Super Premier Division affair followed by our West of Scotland Cup showdown against Glenafton.

“The two cup contests are both at home where we continue to remain unbeaten this season but the players cannot take that statistic as proof they can come out on top even though I do believe playing in front of our own supporters brings out the best in the guys.

“It’s crucial we stick to the same passing style that served us well in the 3-0 win when Shettleston were last here, but we have to marry that nice on the eye approach with a lot of hard work as a unit to get the ball back when things break down.

“If we can do that and earn the right to play then it will take a good team to beat us.”

Ayrshire also plays host to the replay head-to-head of last season’s beaten semi-finalists Hurlford United and a Fauldhouse United side whose battling back from 2-0 down last weekend earned them a second bite at the cherry.

Darren Henderson’s men are strongly fancied to secure a place in the third-round hat ahead of next Tuesday’s draw while similarly hoping to make home advantage tell are Benburb awaiting the visit of minnows Scone Thistle and the Martin Campbell steered Greenock whose own inability to hold on to a 2-0 lead forged by David McNeil and Kenny Munro goals may yet come back to haunt them when Bathgate Thistle come through to the Tail O’ The Bank.

Spearheading a three-strong West Region deputation heading in the opposite direction are Petershill facing a tough nut to crack in Newtongrange Star and tough contests are likewise in the offing for Larkhall Thistle and Saltcoats Vics away to Arniston Rangers and Easthouses Lily respectively.