Elgin City manager Jim Weir wants his players to use their next two Betfred Cup games to show their League 2 credentials this season.
The Black and Whites have lost both their group games, to Dunfermline and Hearts, but travel to League 1 side East Fife tonight before hosting League 2 rivals Peterhead at Borough Briggs on Saturday.
Weir said: “League 2 is shaping up to be really competitive this season.
“While I don’t usually read too much into pre-season results, both Clyde and Stirling have had good results in the Betfred Cup.
“We’ve got a tough start to the league this season and we’re hoping to use the next two ties to build momentum, confidence and hopefully score some goals, too.”
Weir watched East Fife as they lost 3-0 at Hearts on Saturday and the manager knows his side faces another difficult test tonight at New Bayview.
He said: “All the games are tough but to play two of the better teams first has been a challenge for us.
“I was at Tynecastle on Saturday to watch East Fife against Hearts and they had a really good 20-minute spell in the second half.
“I left quite impressed by what I saw from their players.”
The City manager will be without last season’s leading scorer Shane Sutherland until 2018 as the former Caley Thistle forward recovers from a cruciate ligament injury.
Weir will be patient in ensuring he finds the right attacker to strengthen his forward line.
Former St Mirren attacker Lewis McLear was on trial before he suffered an injury and Weir may revive his interest once the player returns to fitness.
He said: “I’ll go and see the chairman just to see if we can squeeze a bit more out of the budget.”
Elgin midfielder Jamie Reid is a doubt with a thigh injury.