Brian Brown admits Vale of Leven are heading into the unknown, as they welcome Edinburgh University to the Millburn.
The Alexandria side will host Lowland League opposition for the first time on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Kilsyth Rangers, but Brown hopes his players will take heart from their last outing against higher ranked opposition - when they drew 1-1 with Hurlford United.
He said: “I think the guys have taken confidence from the Hurlford game.
“Everybody we’re coming across just now are all from leagues that are way above where we were before.
“As far as I can see, and if people are being honest when they are talking to me, then we’re more than holding our own.
“On Saturday I’m sure the boys will roll their sleeves up and get right in about it.
“As far as I know I don’t think we have played a Lowland League team. Certainly in my time anyway.
“It will be another difficult game. We’re unknown to them and Edinburgh Uni are quite unknown to us as well.
“It will be very interesting to see what that pans out like.
“Hopefully it will be quite busy and we get the support we usually get for cup games at the Millburn.
“If we’d drawn one of the better known Lowland League teams then it could’ve been quite a big crowd. But it’s certainly one that we’re looking forward to.
“We need to approach it in the same way we’ve approached games against teams in the higher divisions, and give it a right good go as we always do.”
On league duty meanwhile the Vale suffered a fifth consecutive defeat against Kilsyth Rangers, with Brown feeling the result was harsh on his patched up side.
He added: “It probably just followed the same pattern as other games this season. Apart from St Rochs and Neilston there haven’t been many games that have properly got away from us.
“There is a whole load of effort going in from the guys, but they probably aren’t getting the rewards. I think anyone watching would’ve said we were due at least a draw.
“It was a game of few chances, but I’d say that we probably had the better of them.”
Kick off at Millburn on Saturday is 1.30pm.
