Jeanfield hitthe cuptrail

Jeanfield Swifts begin their Scottish Cup journey this weekend.

And manager Ross Gunnion has tagged their preliminary round one tie away at Coldstream as the biggest in the club’s recent history.

The Perth side, making their debut in the competition, have aspirations of working through to the main draw.

But navigating beyond Coldstream of the Scottish Borders, who play in the East of Scotland League’s Conference B, is the first port of call.

Gunnion said:“When you talk about the Scottish Cup, I honestly believe we’re talking about the biggest game in Jeanfield’s recent history.

“We had Coldstream watched and as you’d expect we have done a bit of digging on them.

“The problem is that it’s so early in the season so you’re relying on what they did last year and the two or three games so far.

“We watched them last week and by all accounts I think they were under strength. They were playing two or three trialists.

“It’s going to be a little bit of the unknown but they can certainly score goals and

have two or three potent threats in attack.

“But at the same time they’re maybe not the most solid team at the back. We need to hope our strength in attack can exploit them.

“With a cup game away from home the message will be to stay tight and not concede any early goals.”

Swifts had a number of players out for their Premier Division defeat against Tranent last week but the list is set to ease for this weekend.

“We had seven players out last week, including our goalkeeper and three strikers,”Gunnion said.

“Rhys Davies and Paul Simpson will definitely be back. Mark Mitchell, Connor McLaren and Mark Smith are in with a chance of starting.

“Hopefully we will be getting five, perhaps six, back for the game and that definitely helps.

“Knowing how important the game is was maybe behind one or two of the guys not wanting to risk injuries and niggles last week.”

Perth players are set to be backed by a bumper away following at Home Park.

“We’ve got a supporters’bus on top of our own bus, which is full of supporters,”said Gunnion.

“We’ll have a good following and might even have 100. It’s as big an away game as Jeanfield are going to have for a while.

“There’s 30 or 40 who usually go to watch St Johnstone who have decided to come and give us some support for this game.”

The winners of tomorrow’s tie will play either Linlithgow Rose or Preston Athletic in preliminary round two.

Fellow East of Scotland League side Kinnoull are in Alex Jack Cup first round action away at Arniston Rangers on Saturday.

The Tulloch Park men have made a super start to life away from the junior football scene and have sights set on a number of extended cup runs.

Arniston ply their trade in the Conference B and are yet to pick up a point from three games.