EK WARY OF TALBOT TEST

Cup holders stand between Kilby and last 8

Kevin Rutkiewicz says East Kilbride won’t treat Auchinleck Talbot lightly in the South Challenge Cup – because they’ve booted bigger clubs than them out of competitions.

West of Scotland Premier League side Talbot famously ousted Championship club Hamilton Accies from the 2021 Scottish Cup, and have a habit of doing well against so-called bigger opposition.

And Rutkiewicz says the current holders will have their respect in the fifth round tie at Beechwood Park on Saturday.

He said: “I won’t be taking Talbot lightly, that’s for sure. They’ve been involved in many good cup games over the last few years in the senior Scottish Cup.

“They’ve surprised and booted out bigger teams than us, so they will absolutely get our respect.

“They’re always a tough nut to crack, particularly at home. They will have a big crowd there, they will be noisy and in your face, and I’m expecting a brilliant Scottish tie in the cup, everything about what these cup games bring.

“Talbot are the epitome of what cup games are all about. They bring that partisan, community atmosphere and I can’t wait.

“They are not going to be intimidated by East Kilbride running up.

“They’ll try to intimidate us as a team but above and beyond that, they’ve got some cracking players and we know we will be in a game.

“I think it’s a brilliant tie, one we want to get our teeth into and have a right good go at it.”

The Lowland League title is well out of reach for Kilby, who sit sixth in the table, so the cup competitions are their only hope of silverware this season.

Rutkiewicz added: “You map out what you want to do at the start of the season and everybody wants to win the league.

“When that hope fades you then look at what else you can be successful in.

“We want to win the cup, there’s no doubt about that, but there’s a big obstacle in front of us on Saturday to get a step closer to that.

“I would give my left pinkie to be in the hat for the next round.

“It still puts us a long way from achieving anything but it would certainly get us closer.

“The draw could have been kinder – and I mean that with the greatest of respect to every other club – but away to Talbot this early is probably one we wanted to avoid.

“It’s one we shouldn’t need any motivation for, and I’m sure the fans are looking forward to it.”