Stevie Swift says he has no regrets over turning his back on Junior team management to rekindle his love affair with playing the game.

The 37-year-old, who resigned as Kilbirnie Ladeside gaffer in November, is a long way down the road from when he was at the peak of his on-field powers.

Yet he is gearing himself up to make an appearance in the Scottish Junior Cup last 16 for his fifth club.

Swifty is hoping to don the colours of Kilwinning Rangers when the Ayrshiremen take the road to Fife to go up against bookmakers joint trophy favourites Kelty Hearts on Saturday.

The one-time Junior Scotland internationalist would be first to admit he has not had the best of luck in the game’s showpiece competition seeing as a solitary runners-up medal is all he has to show for previously figuring with Benburb , Linlithgow Rose, Irvine Meadow and Pollok in the cup’s latter stages.

And those so near yet so far agonies were multiplied threefold during his Meadow Park playing stint where memories of losing out in quarter-final encounters against Largs Thistle , Pollok and Auchinleck Talbot have made him determined to have one more shot at glory with last season’s beaten semi-finalists.

His decision to pull on the boots again came about after he answered a call to arms from Buffs manager Chris Strain that led to him playing - and scoring - in last weekend’s 4-2 New Coin Holdings Cup victory over “his beloved Bens' .

He said: “ I had been toying with the idea of helping out Arnie (Largs Thistle manager Stuart Davidson) after parting company with Kilbirnie and there were opportunities to apply for management jobs,which I didn’t take up.

“I focused instead on getting myself into a decent physical condition with plenty of hours spent in the gym which proved very fortuitous when Chris telephoned asking if I could help him out.

“He and I have stayed close friends since playing together at Irvine Meadow and he’s been badgering me non-stop to turn out for him ever since I parted company with Kilbirnie so I agreed to go down for a couple of training sessions.

“It was enjoyable working alongside the other guys and I then agreed to play as a stop gap central defender during a midweek friendly win over Dalry Thistle which was my first game in almost three years.

“Scoring with a set-piece header was the icing on the cake and I was only too willing to turn out against my first Junior club Benburb on Saturday where I felt even more comfortable and yet again got on the end of a corner kick to head a goal.

“I’m feeling good for the run-outs and there are no after-effects so as long as the old ankles are holding up then I’m happy to give it a go.”

Swifty was in charge when Kilbirnie Ladeside came away from Fife with a 0-0 draw in a competitive pre-season friendly joust with Kelty Hearts and he needs no reminding of their qualities.

He added: "They are a football playing side as you might expect on an Astro-turf pitch but they don’t lack for physicality either and I’m not surprised they are looking potential East Region champions.

“That said, I don’t think Kilwinning Rangers are going up there thinking of themselves as no-hopers not when their squad boasts match-winning types in Bryan Boylan and Ian Cashmore as well as Carlo Monti whom I played alongside at Pollok fully five years ago when he was nothing short of sensational.

“Playing at the top of his game, Carlo has the qualities to give any team a headache or two and I wouldn’t like to be in Kelty’s defence if he’s in the mood.”

Buffs boss Strain does not believe the Fifers will be extra motivated in wanting to avenge their losing Cup Final appearance against the Buffs in 1999 when legendary frontman Gerry Peline netted the only goal of the game.

He admitted: "Obviously that little bit of history between the clubs can never be taken away however I cannot think thoughts of 1999 will enter any of the players’ minds ahead of Saturday.

“It certainly won’t be mentioned in our dressing room where I want everyone’s focus to be on the present day Kelty Hearts and on the implementing our game plan which requires us to be very sound defensively.

“That maybe explains in part why Swifty has been brought on board as I feel he provides the bit of experience that our backline has been lacking in terms of cutting out the errors that have cost us dearly this season.

“His no-nonsense approach and influence on others around him will come even more into play given that suspension rules out both Joe Coleman and Findlay Frye which is a huge blow and I’m not pretending otherwise but the reality is we have other players capable of coming in to do a job for the team.”

PLAYING SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated): Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round (2.15pm).

Penicuik Athletic v Rob Roy, Dunbar Utd v Glenafton, Auchinleck Talbot v Luncarty, Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose, Kelty Hearts v Kilwinning Rangers, Renfrew v Sauchie, Petershill v Bonnyrigg Rose, Gartcairn v Carluke Rovers.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Hurlford Utd v Beith, Pollok v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Blantyre Vics v Yoker Athletic, Irvine Vics v Cumbernauld Utd, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shettleston, Kilsyth Rangers v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division

Wishaw v Bellshill Athletic, Greenock v Benburb, Neilston v Lesmahagow, Thorniewood Utd v St Roch's, Vale of Clyde v Forth Wanderers, Larkhall Thistle v Johnstone Burgh, Cambuslang Rangers v Rossvale.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

East Kilbride Thistle v Lanark Utd, Dunipace v Port Glasgow, Glasgow Perthshire v Ashfield, St Anthony's v Royal Albert, Newmains Utd v Vale of Leven.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Annbank Utd v Darvel, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Dalry Thistle,Craigmark v Lugar Boswell, Kello Rovers v Saltcoats Vics, Muirkirk v Maybole , Whitletts Vics v Ardeer Thistle.