Brian Rice says he will treat Edinburgh City like a top- flight opponent ahead of their Scottish Cup fourth round clash on Saturday.
James McDonaugh’s City side come calling to the FoY Stadium, and although they currently reside three leagues below Accies in League Two, Rice won’t be taking them lightly.
The Accies head coach wants a run in the competition and watched Edinburgh City’s match at home to Queen’s Park on Saturday as part of his preparations.
He said: “Any game in the Scottish Cup is a big game.
“I don’t think you can take your eye off the ball at any stage.
“This is probably one of the few games we will play where people will make us favourites to win, so we need to make sure we’re ready to go.
“I organised a couple of bounce games to make sure we didn’t have a few weeks off without any football.
“We should be ready to go, and it will be very difficult.
“I’ve seen Edinburgh. I went again on Saturday to watch them against Queen’s Park, so I treat it the exact same as any other game, and with the same respect – it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”
Speculation has linked defender Jamie Hamilton with a big move down south, with Everton just one of several Premier League clubs who have expressed an interest.
Rice says he hopes to keep Hamilton until the end of the season at least, but says if somebody wants him enough, they will get him.
He said: “I’ve had a lot of phone calls from clubs asking me about him, about his personality, why I think he is so good, and so on.
“I’m talking Premier League level. If somebody comes in with a really good offer... it’s not for me to decide that.
“I just want the best players I can get on the pitch at Hamilton and Jamie is one of them.
“Let’s not forget, he’s 17, he’s playing in the Premiership and it hasn’t fazed him, he’s been absolutely outstanding.
“He is a kid, he will have ups and downs and people don’t really understand that.
“It’s mentally tiring, it’s physically draining, and that’s for seasoned pros, so it’s even tougher for the young ones.
“You have to be really careful with the young ones that you don’t give them too much, too young.”
