Cup football has been kind to Peterhead in recent years but there is still one team Blue Toon manager Jim McInally would love to face.
The Balmoor side has taken on Rangers three times in cup action in little over a year – including a memorable meeting in the final of the Petrofac Training Cup final in front of 48,000 spectators at Hampden.
Earlier this season, Peterhead inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Dundee at Balmoor in the League Cup, while they ran their City of Discovery rivals Dundee United close at Tannadice in the Challenge Cup, eventually losing 3-2 after extra time.
Fellow League 1 side Alloa Athletic stand in the way of another crack at Scottish football’s big guns and McInally says his players are determined to progress to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with a win at Balmoor today.
The Peterhead manager said: “We have been so fortunate as a club to enjoy some great cup days.
“Whether that be in the League Cup or the Petrofac Training Cup against Rangers or the Scottish Cup game against Celtic in 2012.
“We know if we win this tie we will be back in with the big teams and we may get another shot at it. Hopefully, that can inspire the players.
“The team I would love to face in the cup is Aberdeen. I think that would be fantastic as there are lots of Aberdeen supporters in Peterhead.
“I’m sure it would be a game that people in Peterhead would love and it has always been one that I would like to happen.
“It hasn’t come to fruition so far and the only way we can take a step closer to making that happen is by winning this weekend.”
Alloa defeated Peterhead 4-0 on the opening day of the season before manager Jack Ross departed for St Mirren.
Ross’ replacement Jim Goodwin has struggled with only two wins from his first seven matches in charge.
McInally added: “Alloa lost a good manager and replaced him with a player-manager.
“Jim is in a bit of turmoil over whether to play himself or take a back seat.
“I have been a player-manager myself and I don’t think it works.
“Jim is in the middle of that and sometimes a player-manager doesn’t have the resources available to be able to take a back seat. But we know Alloa have good players and what they can do if we allow them to play.
“We have got to make sure we defend well and capitalise on any chances we create.”
Defender Ryan Strachan, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s 2-1 win at Livingston, and suspended goalkeeper Fraser Hobday will miss today’s match.
But captain Simon Ferry returns from a ban, while Jamie Redman is back available following a foot injury.