Shettleston boss Hugh Kelly loves the romance and excitement of the Scottish Junior Cup.

But, if you offered him promotion to the top flight, he would gladly swap his side's impressive run in this year's competition.

That's not to say the long-serving Town gaffer isn't taking tomorrow's fifth-round clash with Newtongrange Star seriously - because nothing could be further from the truth.

He is a fiercely competitive individual, and would love nothing more than to see his club make it through to tonight's quarter-final draw.

First, though, Shettleston have a Greenfield Park date with the East Region big guns - and Kelly is hoping for a bumper crowd.

He said: "It's a game everyone at the club is looking forward to immensely. Newtongrange Star are a top side and will probably bring a right good support through with them, but I'm hoping local supporters will also come out and get behind their team.

"I watched them play Blantyre Vics in the last round and it was a really competitive game. The Vics played well, but Newtongrange were just a bit too strong for them.

"They are a big side, and quite powerful, but the pitch cut up quite badly that day, so they didn't really get a chance to play much football. I've been told, though, that they are very capable of getting the ball down and knocking it about.

"We like to play football as well, but have the players who can mix it when the need arises. It really is shaping up to be an exciting tie."

Shettleston were promoted from the Central District First Division to the Super League First last term, but have already started to make their presence felt in the higher division - and that is something Kelly is determined to continue.

Up until recently, Town were managing to keep tabs on runaway leaders Pollok, but a four-times postponed Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Clydebank saw them lose ground in the table.

They are currently third top, one point behind second-placed Maybole, but with FIVE games in hand over the Ayrshire side.

Kelly said: "It's an old cliché, but the league is our bread and butter, and promotion to the Premier League is our main focus. In fact, if you offered me promotion right now, instead of an extended cup run, I would bite your hand off for it.

"That said, at 2.15pm tomorrow afternoon, the only thing that the players, coaches and myself will be focused on will be beating Newtongrange, and we will give it everything we have.

"Newtongrange are having a fantastic season, and are unbeaten in their own Premier League, but even if we are second favourites to win the match, it's the Scottish Cup and anything can happen.

"We probably weren't favourites to win our third-round clash at top-flight Clydebank, but we did. It was a five-goal thriller and we earned our place in this round.

"I remember we reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup in 2001 and lost to Carnoustie Panmure at Dens Park. Renfrew - who I think got relegated that season - then beat them in the final, so games in this competition can definitely go either way."

Kelly added: "We have some smashing players in our squad, and some good experience as well.

"Chris McCormack was at Celtic for five years, and while he may not have played for the first team, he did gain valuable experience at such a big club.

"We have signed Ricky McIntosh from Montrose, plus we also have many other players with senior experience, so we won't be found wanting in that department.

"We will be going out there tomorrow and giving it absolutely everything we have to win the tie. We have home advantage and want to make that count."

Meanwhile, Newtongrange will once again pin their hopes on Kris Renton and Sean Jamieson, their goal heroes from the fourth-round tie at Blantyre's Castle Park.

Renton, 24, signed for Norwich City when he was just 16, but suffered a broken leg after playing three games for the first team, and that curtailed his career.

He had loan spells at King's Lynn and Brechin City before returning to Scotland and moving to Musselburgh Athletic, who he helped to the Scottish Junior Cup final in 2010.

*The Scottish Junior FA has reached an agreement with Dyslexia Scotland to become the official Scottish Junior Cup partner until the end of the season.