ARTHURLIE fans can be excused for harbouring mixed feelings heading into their Scottish Junior Cup fourth-round replay with Rob Roy.

The Barrhead side have lost to West Region opponents only once since Cumbernauld beat them in the 2001/02 competition - that was when they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage in 2009 by eventual winners Auchinleck Talbot.

Yet it must fill the visiting ranks with a certain sense of trepidation to know that defeat 13 years ago also came in a replay ... at the same Guy's Meadow Stadium hosting Saturday's clash.

The Rabs, currently playing out of Cumbernauld's ground while their new stadium in Kirkintilloch is being constructed, are seeking to emulate their landlords' 3-0 triumph from back then.

And the fear of history repeating itself is not lost on Arthurlie's new assistant manager Stevie Aitchison.

The former defender, three times a loser in Scottish semi-finals during his own playing career, knows the level his team will need to find to progress.

He said: "Lessons were learned from last weekend's first game and we have to take them on board to stand any chance of making it through to the last-16 stage.

"Robert Downs and I have the utmost belief in the players here, but they performed below their best on the day.

"It's no exaggeration to say we could easily have tumbled out but for Mikey White saving our bacon with superb stops at key moments.

"That said we might have pinched victory ourselves late in the game however anything less than a draw would have been grossly unfair on Rob Roy who impressed throughout by the manner in which they kept their shape and stayed organised.

"Theirs is a decent mix of experienced and talented up and coming players but they probably caught the eye more because we didn't compete as our game plan intended and it hardly helped our cause in this respect to lose Rhys Devlin to a very avoidable red card with 20 minutes to go .

"To lose someone of his ability for the replay is hugely disappointing and the probability is he will be ruled out again if we are fortunate enough to get through to meet Penicuik in the next round so he's going to have plenty of time to regret the folly of his ways particularly if whosoever replaces him makes the most of their chance to claim the jersey."

The Dunterlie stalemate was Downsy and Aitchy's first game at the Arthurlie helm and it begged the question as to how the ex-Pollok skipper of ten years fared in terms of roaring encouragement.

He laughed: "The words didn't stick in my throat if that's what you mean?

"I had great times at Pollok and feel proud of what I achieved there but that particular bus is now parked up and I'm thoroughly enjoying being involved with another top club.

"Arthurlie's club officials and supporters have given me 100% backing from day one and my aim is to repay them by doing my bit to help Downsy put a successful team out on the pitch."

Meanwhile, Rabs gaffer Stewart Maxwell is urging his playing charges to be wary of an Arthurlie backlash in Saturday's replay.

He insisted: "My players delivered a performance both individually and collectively that had Arthurlie tottering on the brink of a cup exit so I believe they will treat us with a lot more respect this time around.

"The likes of Paul Finnigan, Gary McMenamin, Scott Upton and Chris Duff served up excellent displays and my only regret is not getting through at the first time of asking as experience tells me that teams don't often get two bites at the big guns .

"That said, you really have to think there isn't much of a difference between the top handful of Super First Division clubs and the Super Premier elite looking at how Pollok, Shettleston and ourselves fared at the weekend."

Vastly experienced defensive ace Jonathan Carter missed training last night but more as a precaution rather than an injury concern however Maxi still has a selection headache with midfielder McMenamin set to fly out for a weekend long break to Germany on Friday.

Said the team boss: "The dynamics of the Guys Meadow pitch dictate a change to how we set ourselves up and I had a key role in mind for Gary which will now fall on someone else unless his plans can alter."

Pollok head up to The Park to meet St Andrews United for whom ex-Aberdeen stopper Phil McGuire is player/manager and visiting hopes of securing a quarter-final place are boosted by boosted by newcomer Ryan McCann declaring himself fit and ready for the fray after missing out on a home debut in the fourth-round defeat of Cumnock.

Lok's hardline gaffer Tony McInally explained the Peterhead loan signing's omission in saying: "Ryan is a class act but he was laid low with a bug last week and if you don't train with me then you don't play!"