Shotts Bon Accord could find the antidote to a stuttering start to the season on their Emirates Scottish Junior Cup travels.

That's the view of skipper Paul Finnigan as he prepares to lead the cup holders into their first defence of the trophy away to Haddington Athletic, some 21 weeks on from the Lanarkshire side's last Emirates sojourn through to the East.

That trip ended with Finny & Co parading the game's top silverware prize around Almondvale Stadium after a memorable 2-1 victory over Auchinleck Talbot.

The 33-year-old full- back is keeping fingers crossed that he and his team-mates can continue their run of happy away days in the Emirates competition.

He said: "I cannot put the finger on why it is but we undoubtedly produced all our best Scottish Cup displays on the road last season.

"In fact the only tie won at Hannah Park was our quarter-final against St Andrews and even that came about after a 2-2 drawn first game.

"It's an odd situation to feel comfortable heading into the relative unknown so to speak but a lot of our success can be attributed to how the gaffer Tony McInally sets us up to play in these away games.

"He is very thorough in his approach and always does his homework on opponents. Just knowing that he, Stewart Ralston and Brian Sheldon have all cast their eye over Haddington has me feeling fairly confident we can do well through there.

"At the same time I'm under no illusions we face a tricky time of it as they sit top of their East League and are said to be a decent footballing side before you consider their players are likely to be extra motivated by the prospect of taking our scalp.

"Everyone wants to knock out the cup holders but it took a long time for us to earn that status and nobody in our dressing-room is for giving it up just yet.

"And truth is the hunger and desire that took us all the way last time is as strong as ever so we want to try and retain it."

It would be fair to say the dice are loaded against Shotts emulating their 2012 triumph given McInally's side currently sit joint- bottom of the Super Premier Division standings alongside Glenafton, with whom they played out a 1-1 stalemate last weekend.

Finny added: "Our game against the Glens tells the story of our season to date because we totally dominated possession-wise but failed to kill them off.

"We are guilty of trying to pass our way through teams instead of having a pot at goal while making silly mistakes at the other end which are costing us dear.

"But there are too many good players at the club for this poor run to continue and I believe we will start to turn things around sooner rather than later.

"Two big pluses have been Alan McKenzie and Tam Hanlon who have been playing out of their skins recently and Adam Coakley showed by scoring last week that he is bedding in to his new surroundings.

"We also have Tony Jaconelli back from a ban and the possibility of Darren Ferguson being available so everything is coming together at the right time."

Also heading East on Emirates duty are Central Second Division leaders Maryhill, hoping to have Ryan Scobie restored to their starting line-up against Stoneyburn as Brian Heron's men seek to bounce back from their surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Newmains United.

Benburb will not get it easy up at Glenrothes, yet arguably another West Region team has a tougher trip.

Renfrew are also heading up to the Kingdom of Fife to face Kelty Hearts, the current third-placed East Region side and strongly fancied for an Emirates Cup run.