David Greig has cursed the injury crisis which has severely depleted his Blantyre Vics squad ahead of their trip to meet Lochee United in today's Scottish Junior Cup third round.

The ambitious gaffer has never led the Vics to the last 32 of the competition - Benburb knocked them out in the third round last time out - and he wanted a fully fit playing hand to boost hopes of progressing.

And he derives only a small crumb of comfort from Thomson Park being anything but unknown territory for him and his playing charges.

That's because his first ever Scottish tie after taking up the Castle Park reins came against the East Superleague cracks who ran out 2-0 winners at home following a 1-1 draw down in Lanarkshire.

The Vics boss said: "Lochee's is a terrific set-up and I'm just like all the surviving players from two seasons ago in looking forward to going back up there again.

"Deep down I was keen to show how our team has come on in leaps and bounds in the intervening years, yet now that opportunity could be denied me by an ever-worsening catalogue of injuries."

He said: "I had hoped Davie Green's experience and influence would be available to anchor our midfield but he broke down with a reccurrence of a calf muscle problem taking part in the warm-up ahead of last weekend's game against Carluke Rovers and has to be rated a definite non-starter.

"And his ready-made replacement in the engine room - Ryan McGarry - was forced to play despite a niggling groin strain but has now paid the price in not being able to train all week.

"Craig Smith has also spent a couple of nights on the treatment table hoping a painful foot knock will clear up while Brian McLaughlin is still struggling with a back strain which has sidelined him in recent weeks and Kyle Lochhead is ruled out through work commitments."

He added: "We certainly don't have our worries to seek and there are a further one or two players who are touch and go, so you can take it as read that we won't be naming our team until arriving up at Lochee and putting the players through their paces before kick-off."

Some good news for Greig is that redoubtable defender Andy Sinclair has declared himself fit following a two- week absence and the display of new goalkeeper signing Kevin "Paddy" Macklin in the 3-2 defeat of Carluke was also cause for cheer.

He said: "Paddy made an excellent debut and was in no way culpable for the two goals conceded, one of which was a penalty-kick.

"He used his experience to great effect and might have taken man of the match honours but for an immense performance from big Davie Kirkwood who netted a well-taken brace and also set up our other goal on a plate for Smiddy.

"Kirky is now at the veteran stage but on his day there are few better strikers of his bustling mould going the rounds and if he's in a similar vein of form today then Lochee's defenders will know they've been in a game."

"We've also signed up young Gavin Ross from Rutherglen Glencairn who will give us something different going forward and before you ask ... he's not cup-tied."

Scottish Cup fever will abound throughout the West Region today and some cracking all-West ties are in prospect with Shettleston taking on Neilston, Beith going up against Ayrshire rivals Kilwinning Rangers and Dunipace hosting the visit of Kilsyth Rangers.

Cup holders Hurlford United and last season's beaten finalists Glenafton take to the road, with Darren Henderson's men heading through to face Super Premier Division foes Shotts Bon Accord whose manager Tam McDonald is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his dugout counterpart.

He said: "Winning promotion was a means to an end in wanting to test ourselves against the very best teams and they don't come much better in the Scottish than the cup holders.

"Darren did exceptionally well last season but it's so much more difficult to win the cup second time around because everyone wants to take your scalp."

Glenafton are at Guy's Meadow to face Rob Roy but will be without key midfield playmaker James McKernon due to a family wedding.