COWDENBEATH are banking on their outstanding home form—17 goals in their last four matches at Central Park—to see them win through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup for the first time in 14 years.

But the Fifers will have to beat their bogey team this season, Brechin City, who have won their two league encounters to date—their second triumph coming only seven days ago by a 4-2 scoreline at Glebe Park.

Despite these two defeats, Cowden boss Brian Welsh says his players are going into this tie with confidence.

He said, “This is a massive game with a big prize at the end of it.

“We felt we deserved a point at Brechin last week and we certainly have nothing to fear, especially as our home form has been so good.

“We know this is going to be a difficult game but the players are confident and it has been clear this season that there is little to choose between the teams in the second division.”

Cowden’s disappointment over the defeat in Angus was quickly overcome with their 2-1 Fife derby success against Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy on Tuesday and Welsh said his players were ready for the cup challenge.

He will still be without injured keeper David Orr and full-back Graham Guy through injury and he has a doubt over experienced midfield player Danny Lennon, who picked up a calf problem in the match against Raith.

City must go into the tie as favourites but manager Michael O’Neill is well aware of the pitfalls.

To get this far his men had to get the better of third division Queen’s Park in a replay in round one and then overcome non-league opposition in the form of Preston Athletic.

And while they have been in a rich vein of scoring form recently, they have to get their heads up after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Forfar in a midweek derby.

“That was a sore two points to lose as we should have won comfortably,” said O’Neill.

“There was quite a bit of reaction from the players in the dressing room afterwards.

“However it could play to our advantage. The lads want to make amends and as far as they are concerned the cup tie can’t come quick enough.”

However, he has called for caution against over-confidence, knowing full well Cowden on their own patch could be a whole different ball game from last Saturday, especially with the added bonus of some sponsorship cash being the prize of progress.

“It will be a difficult tie, there is no doubt about that,” said O’Neill. “We have beaten Cowdenbeath in both of our league meetings this season but a cup game is quite different, everybody knows that. There’s a big prize at the end of this and we will have to be at our very best tomorrow.”

Though he himself has fallen prey to the winter respiratory virus, O’Neill has lost no players through the illness and he has no fresh injury worries.

Though expected to return to training in three to four weeks, much sooner than initially expected, Grant Johnson remains unavailable, as does Scott Walker, and John Ward will undergo a late fitness test.