CLYDEBANK’S hopes of enjoying a long ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup run have been dealt a blow by the absence of full-backs Hashim Cole and Robbie Halliday in today’s third-round tie against Kelty Hearts.

Former Vale of Clyde discovery Cole has a broken wrist, which is likely to sideline him for up to four weeks while Halliday - brother of Rangers ace Andy - is on a holiday break, arranged when he was on the books of Dalry Thistle before he signed for the Super First Division cracks.

Team boss Budgie McGhie is not exactly short of options and considers himself fortunate in being able to draft in experienced campaigner Andy Patterson as well as outstanding prospect Danny McKinnon, who stepped up from Harmony Row Under 21’s during the summer months.

However, after taking in Kelty’s game against Camelon last weekend Budgie is stressing the need for the duo to dovetail seamlessly either side of centre-back pairing Robert O’Neil and Alan Vezza if the Bankies want to overcome the Fifers and secure a last-32 place.

He said: “It’s a massive test against a team boasting a number of quality players and I feel the key is to keep things tight at the back because Kelty’s strengths are undoubtedly in their forward line.

“They have Calum Smith, formerly of Linlithgow Rose, who is very strong aerially and can partner him with another big lad in Scott Dalziel or their top scorer Stuart Cargill who came off the bench against Camelon and netted a couple of goals.

“And they also boast a very experienced midfield in which Steven Husband ex-Hearts, Dunfermline and Blackpool pulls the strings and is very comfortable on the ball if given time and space to operate.

“Hopefully that won’t be the case if our gameplan works because I’m fairly confident we can get at Kelty in an attacking sense ourselves and put them on the back foot a lot more than Camelon did last week .

“ Our one-time Partick Thistle winger Mark Burbridge has the ability to pose a lot of problems running at defenders while yet another Harmony Row youngster Stevie Young is enjoying a purple patch in front of goal and is likely to punish any lapses.

“He’s been with us since the close season, but has rarely featured because of injuries.

"However, he showed his prolific qualities by notching five goals from coming on as a substitute to play the second half of our recent game with Kilwinning Rangers and then starting the following week against Maybole.

“A goal every 27 minutes is terrific return by anyone’s standards and I just hope his eye’s in again on Saturday.

“The draw has set up a number of top-rated East v West clashes which could make for a very open competition for the surviving teams and I’d love for us to be one of them.”

Among the other encounters is an Abbey Park meeting of Kilwinning Rangers and Sauchie who last met in a 2013 fourth-round contest - won 2-0 by the East Region side - just before current Buffs boss Chris Strain took up the reins.

He said: “Sauchie’s front pairing back then was the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist Colin Samuel along with Davie Winters, now at Pollok, so a lot of changes have taken place in the interim with their line-up and indeed ours.

“We have decent forwards nowadays in Bryan Boylan, Ben Lewis and Dean Agnew able to hurt any defence when in the mood and for back-up we can call on Ian Cashmore or Ross Stewart from the bench.

“Sauchie might just fancy their chances coming here again but home advantage is in our favour and I believe this Kilwinning side is capable of giving anyone a game of it in front of our own supporters.”

One time Sauchie midfielder Tony Stevenson is in line for a recall to the Petershill side for an every bit as daunting contest against last season’s beaten finalists Musselburgh Athletic, currently flying high in the East Region standings and rated a more formidable outfit this time out so one cannot help but think Willie Patterson’s men will need to recapture their early season form to stand any chance of progressing.

Neilston hosting the visit of Arniston Rangers and St Roch's awaiting the visit of Kennoway Star Hearts make for further intriguing spectacles while lashings of added spice are given to the showdown of Kilsyth Rangers and Camelon by the East side boasting no fewer than three former Duncansfield players in their line-up …Calum Scott, Franny Kelly and Graeme McLaren.

Wee Gers boss Keith Hogg said: “Hopefully we can afford the lads a warm welcome back and an even hotter reception once the game is underway.”