Brett Agnew has laughed off any suggestion the other teams in tonight's Emirates Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final draw are desperate to avoid Rutherglen Glencairn.

Kelty Hearts can claim to be the only name going into the hat never to have lifted the trophy. However, bustling frontman Agnew believes the Glens have a more telling distinction as the only non-Super Premier League side still standing.

The 23-year-old, who enjoyed a three-season stint with West Calder United before coming through to play in these parts – fully respects the stature of the East and West Region big guns, but is relishing the prospect of locking Emirates horns with them.

He said: "As a player, you want to be taking on the best to prove you can be just as good as them over 90 minutes, and anyone not up for that challenge shouldn't be playing the game.

"It's down to the nitty-gritty now, with a lot of big names in the last eight as well as ourselves, but we have equally earned our right to be there and can hold our heads high

"It's been mooted we are the cup dark horses and a potential banana skin for the big boys, but reality tells me that, deep down, every other team will be listening in tonight hoping to be paired with us.

"It's only natural in the same way that our dressing room accepts we will be rated massive underdogs, regardless of whose name comes out alongside ours, therefore our only wish is for a home tie."

Looking ahead to his side's possible opponents, Agnew added: "When you think of Linlithgow Rose, you think of one of the biggest Junior clubs around, yet they hold no fear factor for me after playing against them in League Cup section games during my time with West Calder. Word has it they are much improved this year.

"That also goes for Camelon, who I faced on several occasions, and I shaped up well enough for their managers at the time, Stevie Kerrigan and Martin Mooney, to make a signing offer, but the clubs could not agree terms.

"They are a very good side on their own Carmuirs Park, so probably best to avoid a trip through there, and the same can be said about Bo'ness and Kelty."

Neither is he overawed by the thought of landing any of the remaining West Region hopefuls tonight.

The striker, whose double in last Saturday's 3-2 triumph over Pumpherston made him Glencairn's leading marksman for the season to date, said: "I've never come up against Auchinleck and Cumnock, so they are unknown quantities to me. However, the more experienced guys in our squad have marked my card in saying we want to avoid Talbot.

"Shotts are a bit more familiar, and the fact we competed pretty well against them in league matches last season means I am not running scared of them, even if they are the holders."

On the transfer front, Pollok have snapped up ex-St Mirren goalkeeper Michael McKinven, who played in their 1-0 victory over Dunipace – a game that also marked the return to action of skipper Paul Lovering following a four-month absence through illness.