Brora Rangers and Nairn County are aiming to keep the Highland League flag flying high in the Scottish Cup this weekend.
The north pair face tough away ties to league leaders this afternoon in the third round of the national competition.
The Sutherland men head to Meadowbank to play Lowland League table-toppers Edinburgh City, while Nairn face the equally daunting prospect of tackling SFL League 2 pacesetters Arbroath at Gayfield.
Brora manager Davie Kirkwood said: “I watched Edinburgh City last week and they have some very good players, including big Joe Mbu at the back and Ross Allum up front.
“It is really all about how we play ourselves on the day. If we play to our potential we can do well.
“Edinburgh have a really good record at home, where they are unbeaten, while we are unbeaten in the last 18 months. That is frightening.
“Meadowbank is a big, wide-open place. There won’t be much atmosphere, so we will have to make our own and it will be a heavy pitch with the amount of rainfall this week.
“So I don’t expect it to be the prettiest game of football you’ve ever seen.
“It will be about the team that wants it most on the day.”
Brora’s only absentee is full back Colin Williamson, who is still suffering from a calf strain.
Nairn manager Les Fridge is well aware of the task facing his team.
He said: “Two years ago we drew at Clyde and beat them in the replay at Station Park but Arbroath are flying high at the top of League 2, so we know how difficult it is going to be.
“We are going into the game very much as underdogs as they have won their last eight league games in a row but it is the Scottish Cup and so anything can happen.
“We have had a good week at training and we will go to Gayfield and give it our best shot as we really do have nothing to lose.
“We will have to try to start the game well and keep things tight for as long as possible – a draw certainly wouldn’t be a disaster as it would get us into the hat for Monday’s fourth-round draw.
“We will have to wait and see if Stuart Leslie, Gregg Main, Steven Ellis and John Cameron are available with work commitments or not.”