Peterhead’s Paddy Boyle would love a glamour Scottish Cup tie in the new year.
The Blue Toon take on Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park this afternoon in round three of the tournament.
Progression provides the chance of a fourth-round tie in January with a Premiership heavyweight.
Boyle hopes the Buchan outfit have that to look forward to and the left-back is also looking further into the future.
The 32-year-old is training to become a PE teacher and is currently on placement at Beith.
The former Ayr United, Airdrieonians and Dunfermline player said: “You always want to progress in the Scottish Cup because you are always dreaming of a shot at glory.
“If you get through you want the glamour tie. It’s great for fans and for the club to have a successful cup run.
“The whole club can get a lift and there will be a buzz around the club if you’re playing a big name.”
Today’s tie is Peterhead’s fourth meeting with Raith Rovers this season and the third at Stark’s Park.
In their two previous visits to Kirkcaldy the Blue Toon lost 3-1 in the Betfred Cup and 4-0 on league duty.
However, Jim McInally’s men did defeat Rovers 2-0 at Balmoor three weeks ago, which was the start of a three-game unbeaten run that Boyle says they will take confidence from.
“In the first game Raith turned us over and it was our fourth game in 11 days,” he said.
“In the second game they gave us a torrid time. Maybe we gave them too much respect and allowed them to play around us.
“We need to get close to them and not let them settle, it’s difficult when you’re playing a good side.
“But if we can get on top of them like we did at home and let them know we’re a good side it should be a more competitive game.
“I think we have to take confidence from that and the last three games as a whole.
“We’re unbeaten in three and in a couple of games before that we didn’t get the results we wanted, but we played well.”