COWDENBEATH see William Hill Scottish Cup third round action on Saturday for the first time in three seasons when Highland League side Brora Rangers come to Central Park.

Indifferent performances in previous seasons at the second round stage have seen Cowden's interest in the Cup end rather swiftly but the battling show against Clyde three weeks ago sees this attractive tie on the agenda.

Manager Gary Bollan is looking forward to the challenge and he wants his side to be totally focussed on making the potentially money spinning fourth round.

It seems a long time ago now but under Colin Nish the Blues went to Ibrox in round four and earned a cheque for more than £150,000, despite losing 5-1 to Rangers.

But before Cowdenbeath can think about getting a plum tie they have to take care of Brora on Saturday, a side who are hot on the tails of Highland League leaders Cove Rangers.

They are currently lying in third top spot, three points behind Cove, but have scored 49 goals in 16 league games.

Mr Bollan is confident his men can meet the challenge head-on this weekend: "We deserve our place in the third round for the performance against Clyde in round two was very good.

"We handled a good side well by defending solidly and creating a lot of quality chances, but we know only too well that we will need to repeat that form to make round four."

With no game on Saturday due to Queen's Park's involvement in the Barrs Irn Bru Cup the boss managed to take in QP's Friday night match with Welsh side Connah's Quay at Hampden Park and then on Saturday hoped to view Brora in action.

The manager is under no illusion's as to the challenge the his team face: "Brora are one of the top teams in the Highland League and we saw what that competition offers when we played Cove Rangers three times in a space of three months in various competitions.

"Brora have been winning a lot of games and have been thumping in the goals so we will need to be at our best on Saturday.

"It is important we make round four for all the Premiership sides are in that draw and there is the chance to get a real plum tie."

He also knows that three days later Queen's Park will be at Central Park in the postponed league game, another vital fixture for his men as Cowdenbeath look to move up the table.

Mr Bollan added: "These are two very important games for us, but we will have a full squad for the Brora game, although Fraser Mullen (pictured above) is suspended for the Queen's Park match.

"Fraser is an important player for us but I am sure that whoever replaces him will do a good job next Tuesday.

"First things first though we need to win against Brora and that is the aim."

Cowdenbeath's strike force, in the shape of Jordyn Sheerin, Kris Renton, David Cox and Martin Scott, are players of the quality which the Brora defence will not meet on a weekly basis and the Blues will be hoping that their sharpness is too much for the Highlanders.