Elgin hope to crack tough cup challenge at the Rock

With the prize of a place in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round at stake, both Dumbarton and Elgin City face off with the Black & Whites very much looking to upset the odds.

The Championship side last week qualified for the last-four of the Irn Bru Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over Raith Rovers, while Elgin recorded a 3-1 success at Cowdenbeath.

It's that kind of form on the road which has heartened City boss Gavin Price in recent times, "Away form has been pretty reasonable of late, we saw at Edinburgh City, Stirling Albion, our win at Clyde, and also last week at Cowdenbeath so yes that's been positive ahead of Saturday"

"You don't want to take these games for-granted...you never know what might be thrown up in the next round..."

Last season City saw a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Caley Thistle in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round, having won through to the phase which many lower league sides target, when the so-called "big teams" come into the reckoning.

"You don't want to take these games for-granted, we're certainly not viewing it as a free weekend, as you never know what might be thrown up in the next round should we progress"

That said, Gavin concedes that it's perhaps one of the hardest ties the League Two side could've drawn at this stage, not that they'll be sitting back in inviting The Sons to attack.

"We've a lot of ability in the side going forward and we always create chances, but it'll be a different sort of game for us, and we'll have to be prepared for those times where we don't have the ball. We still need to get boys forward and support the attack when we do have the ball"

"There are a lot of boys at the club who are originally from clubs higher up the league and they'll relish the chance of going and testing themselves against tougher opposition"

This week Elgin City have strengthened in the midfield with Declan Byrne (most recently of Cowdenbeath) who's been training with the Black & Whites for the last couple of weeks.

All three loan players (Lewis Strapp, Bruce Anderson and Tony Dingwall) are unavailable, while Matthew Cooper and Shane Sutherland are still sidelined.

Lewis Strapp has suffered no ill-effects after being stretchered off following a clash in last weeks win at Central Park.

Among the other ties in the Scottish Cup Third Round, Buckie Thistle also face Championship opponents as they host Brechin City. Fraserburgh travel to play Spartans, and Brora Rangers are also on the road as they face the long journey to Stranraer.