Two divisions and 17 league places separate Raith and Elgin City but Rovers assistant boss Laurie Ellis insists no-one will be taking anything for granted when the sides meet in the William Hill Scottish Cup tomorrow.
The Championship side will start as firm favourites when they travel up north to face Jim Weir’s League Two outfit.
However, Ellis is fully aware that this tie is a potential banana skin, especially as Elgin are unbeaten at home so far this season.
When it was suggested that on paper there should only be one winner, Ellis replied: “I don’t agree with that and that’s the beauty of the Scottish Cup. Everyone looks towards the Scottish Cup as a break from the league and it has a different feel and a different excitement about it.
“You always wonder who you’re going to draw and where you’re going to travel to, whether a different team to one you normally play might be coming to your place.
“You’re always looking for the cup and the excitement of getting through the rounds brings that again in the next round.
“One things for sure, Elgin will play out of their skins on Saturday and if we don’t then it’s anyone’s game.
He added: “They’re a decent side. We’ve obviously watched them recently and they had a really good win at the weekend against East Fife.
“It’s an exciting game because it’s a Scottish Cup tie and it’s a chance to go into the next round, but it’s every bit as exciting for them.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re professional and we give it our best shot, and make sure we’ve got enough on the day to win a game of football.
“It does matter who it’s against and who it is.”
Another factor to consider is that Raith are a full-time team playing against the part-timers of Elgin although again Ellis was not convinced that meant Rovers would have a big advantage.
He said: “I’m not so sure the full-time against part-time thing is as relevant in one game, in a knock-out cup-tie.
“They’ll definitely be bursting at the seams and full-time squads are larger for a season’s campaign but this is one cup tie and it’s a cup tie they’ll be giving everything to get through.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re bang on it on Saturday.”
Raith are sweating over the fitness of Jason Thomson, Mitch Megginson and Lewis Toshney for the cup game while long-term absentees Craig Barr and Lewis Vaughan remain out.
However, centre-half David Bates will be available after being recalled from his loan spell at Brechin.