THE perceived need for a number of big-name Junior clubs to get their act together has just become more urgent than ever seeing as this Saturday heralds the playing of the 2016/17 EthxEnergy Scottish Junior Cup first round ties.

It really is hard to believe that a matter of 118 days after Beith’s historic triumph over Pollok at Rugby Park brings the start of the challenge to the Ayrshire club’s crown.

The proud Cup holders were awarded automatic passage into the second round hat on account of being otherwise engaged in lining up against Strathspey Thistle in the William Hill Scottish Cup while beaten finalists Lok are one of four other Super Premier Division outfits to have breathed a sigh of relief after receiving byes in the draw.

Yet if this inaugural list of Cup pairings is unlikely to be termed as a momentous opening set then it’s equally indisputable that there is considerable scope for a number of shock upsets as well as potential epics.

Indeed, two of last season’s wounded nearly men…beaten semi-finalists Kilwinning Rangers and Hurlford United are involved in arguably the most intriguing ties of all…the Buffs embarking on a trip through to the James McGrory Stadium in Garngad to meet a St Roch's side, always brimming with aggression and danger in their own backyard while Darren Henderson’s revamped Ford head further afield for a high-octane clash of their own against Lochee United.

And to describe clubs as taking a step into the unknown can hardly be termed appropriate in the case of Cumnock whose revival under John McKeown is set to undergo a thorough examination when he leads the Ayrshiremen through to Beltane Park for a locking of horns with his former club Wishaw.

High-flying Glenafton landing a trip East to face Broxburn Athletic had Glens gaffer Craig McEwan insisting “It’s a game I’d rather have avoided at this stage” and it’s understandable if those same words were not voiced by Irvine Meadow co-bosses Gareth Turner and Michael Wardrope with regard to their side’s Craighead Park joust against Lesmahagow.

Medda have failed to win in their last four outings and were soundly beaten 3-0 by Kilsyth Rangers last weekend while the Gow racked up a morale boosting 3-1 victory over Johnstone Burgh that saw in-form hitman Jack Currie take his goals total for the season to 10 with a well-taken hat-trick.

Gow manager Rab Irving insisted: “Our team on Saturday contained nine players who were not on the club’s books last season and what the guys lack in experience is more than made up for by their enthusiasm and team spirit.

“I’ve far too much respect for Irvine Meadow as a club to think we will turn them over but what I do promises is we will make things as difficult as we possibly can for them coming here.

“Being the higher league side means all the pressure is on them so my players have nothing to lose in having a real go at them.”

Meanwhile, set to clock up more miles on their travels than any other West Region side are Glasgow Perthshire whose journey up to face Ellon United is fraught with selection problems for long-serving gaffer Billy Adams.

He said: “We’ve put together a fairly young squad of players this season but felt it necessary to leave out the vast majority of them against Ashfield at the weekend because we set our stall out for a physical contest.

“It proved the right thing to do but now I find myself saddled with something of a selection headache over whether to bring the guys straight back into a Scottish Junior Cup tie away from home and against a team we know very little about?”

Renfrew, will look to put their disappointing league form behind them (one point from four starts) when heading down to face Saltcoats Vics and the same applies to Largs Thistle even if the John Gibson piloted Blantyre Vics will be seeking to extend Theesel’s run of four defeats.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

William Hill Scottish Cup first round (3pm): Turriff Utd v Bonnyrigg Rose, Girvan v Huntly, Beith v Strathspey Thistle, Selkirk v Linlithgow Rose, Keith v Banks O’ Dee.

EthxEnergy Scottish Junior Cup first round (2.30pm): Armadale Thistle v Kennoway Star Hearts, Wishaw v Cumnock, Kirriemuir Thistle v Easthouses Miners Welfare, Whitletts Vics v Buckie Rovers, Ellon Utd v Glasgow Perthshire, Newburgh Thistle v Sauchie, Ardeer Thistle v East Kilbride Thistle, Buchanhaven Hearts v Culter, Thornton Hibs v Dunbar Utd, New Elgin v Dundee North End, Jeanfield Swifts v Lugar Boswell, Livingston v Cruden Bay, Pumpherston v Kirkaldy YM, Saltcoats Vics v Renfrew, West Calder Utd v Stoneywood Parkvale, Vale of Clyde v Aberdeen Sunnybank, Irvine Vics v Newtongrange Star, Newburgh v Hermes, Largs Thistle v Blantyre Vics, Port Glasgow v Whitehills, Lochee Utd v Hurlford Utd, Bo'ness Utd v Bellshill Athletic, Lesmahagow v Irvine Meadow, Haddington Utd v Troon, Dundee East Craigie v Bathgate Thistle, Broxburn Athletic v Glenafton, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Dundonald Bluebell, Camelon v Whitburn, St Roch's v Kilwinning Rangers, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Banchory St Ternan, Arbroath Vics v Crossgates Primrose.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Arthurlie.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Shettleston v Clydebank.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Maybole v Annbank Utd, Darvel v Craigmark, Kello Rovers v Muirkirk.