The chances of a Junior club going up against the likes of Celtic and Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup have been boosted by the news seven Junior sides will be participating in this season's competition.

The draw for the preliminary round ties are to take place on Saturday, August 16, when Girvan, Scottish Junior Cup holders Hurlford United and respective league championship winners Auchinleck Talbot (west), Bo'ness United (east) and Culter (north), will go into the hat

If all five clubs were to make it through to the first round proper, then they will be joined by the ambitious duo of Linlithgow Rose and Banks O' Dee, who both gained SFA Licenses.

Set to oversee Girvan's quest for glory is new team manager Billy Thomson, who has taken up the Ayrshire District League outfit's top job.