HISTORY will be made at Keirs Park this Saturday when Hill of Beath Hawthorn play in the Scottish Cup Third Round for the first time.

The visitors are League 2 side Elgin City who have had a mixed start to the season, but lie in the top four of the table.

Under the management of Gavin Price, City have stabilised their place in the fourth-tier of the senior structure over the past four seasons, but there is no reason why East of Scotland Premier Division Haws should fear the challenge they face at Keirs Park this weekend.

The last six City games have seen them lose four of these and their record at Borough Briggs is always better than on the road.

City have 22 points from their 15 league games played this term, which sees them creeping into the top four of the League 2 table and there are three players who are really important to the Elgin cause.

These are experienced midfielders, Brian Cameron and Russell Dingwall, and striker Kane Hester.

Cameron, 31, is the longest serving player at Borough Briggs, with 473 appearances yielding 84 goals; and 25 year-old Dingwall has taken the field 85 times and hit nine goals.

Hester, 27, has played 80 games, which have yielded 48 goals, and his strikes have been vital in recent years.

City expect to have just over 100 fans with them for the tie to add to the cup-tie atmosphere.

Haws boss, Jason Dair, is full of respect for Elgin, but is confident that playing at Keirs Park, his team can give them a tough time.

He said: “Elgin have made a good start to the season, but they are always better at home than away, so it is up to us to give them a hard time, with a big crowd behind us.

“We will have to defend well, but with many players now back in action after injury, we will have a strong squad available and our aim is to give them as good a game as we can.

“We have been able to bring in another defender, in James Harley, and he will be in the squad for this weekend, while Jake Mitchell has recovered from his leg injury and played in Saturday’s friendly with Lochore Welfare, and is ready for action.

“Really only striker Lewis Elder is now out so we are in a pretty good position for this tie.”

The only player who will join Elder on the missing list is midfielder, Mikey Watt, who is suspended after his red card in the last round at Newtongrange Star.

Haws officials are hopeful of a crowd of well in excess of 1,000 for the big tie and the admission prices for the game are £12 for adults, and £7 for concessions.