COULD the 2016/17 Scottish Junior Cup be there for the taking for a seventh consecutive season by a West Region club.

The question is posed by a measured glance over the names of the teams going into the hat for today’s fourth round draw being hosted by the Evening Times (3.30pm) which reveals only four of the elite Super Premier Division sides are assured of a last 32 place.

It should be said this number is more than likely to be swelled to five when the 16 ties are scheduled to be played out early in the New Year (Saturday, January 21) given that a resurgent Glenafton are odds on favourites to overcome struggling East Premier League bottom markers Dundee Violet in their postponed third round contest to make up a pretty formidable West quintet alongside reigning trophy holders Beith, Rob Roy, Kilwinning Rangers and whosoever prevails in the eagerly-awaited replay clash between 11 times record cup winners Auchinleck Talbot and last season’s beaten finalists Pollok.

Should the Craig McEwan-steered Glens do the necessary then the strong probability is the West Region contingent will comprise of 15 clubs in total seeing as bookmakers reckon delayed third round exits are beckoning for East Kilbride Thistle, Thorniewood United, Greenock and Blantyre Vics against more fancied opponents.

But having several of the leading Super First Division outfits such as Kilsyth Rangers, Petershill, Girvan and possibly Irvine Meadow making up the last 32 mix only adds credence to the idea that the 130-year-old silverware will yet again be taking up lodgings through in these parts.

And one cannot rule out the likelihood of the Holy Grail extending its first-ever tenure at Bellsdale Park because the Beith players who proved themselves better than the rest last season are looking even better and stronger this time around thanks in no small way to the significant close season transfer moves that brought on board Conner McGlinchey, Mark McLaughlin and Ross “Archie” McPherson.

Mighty boss Johnny Millar won’t like it said but Beith can confidently match up with any team in Junior football when all his best players are out on the pitch and if the imminent sale of want-away midfielder Tommy Martin brings in some transfer funds then Millar can be trusted to further strengthen his playing hand.

The concern is that his cornerstone centre-back trio John Sheridan, Kevin McDonald and the competitive McLaughlin are what can be termed a “long in the tooth” category and may suffer from regular absences as a result of their side’s increasingly congested fixture list so it might be a blessing in disguise if Beith are dealt a knockout blow by Morton in the Scottish Cup proper on Saturday.

To talk of potential Scottish Junior Cup winners and not mention Auchinleck is akin to sacrilege even though Tommy Sloan and his players have a tricky replay against Pollok to negotiate before they can think of the fourth round stage.

Home advantage and the backing of their highly-vociferous followers makes them favourites to get through at the second time of asking but the added pressure of expectations also makes up the price on the ticket of playing for a club whose history in the game’s number one competition may never be surpassed.

Pollok cannot be discounted from causing an upset not least because Tony McInally’s men were similarly written off when facing East Region champions Bonnyrigg Rose away from home in a fifth round tie last season yet they ran out 5-0 winners.

Said Macca: “That was probably our finest hour and a half of the entire season and if we can replicate that level of performance then few teams would live with us.

“Davie Winters scored twice that day in serving up a wonderful striking display and it’s significant that he is fully fit again after playing for at least the past month with a niggling injury.

“Having the replay fall victim to the weather last weekend allowed me to give the guys their first Saturday off since July 4 and I’m sure they will be better for the chance to rest up and have some time to themselves.”