Preparation will be key in ensuring Stranraer avoid a cup upset tomorrow (Saturday).
The Blues make the trip to Civil Service Strollers hoping they make headlines for all the right reasons.
Lewis Budinauckas was confident the team were preparing in the right manner ahead of the trip to the capital.
The goalkeeper has made three appearances for Stranraer since joining on loan from Rangers.
The Ibrox club have given the green light for Budinauckas to play in the Scottish Cup, if selected by manager Scott Agnew.
He was looking forward to the occasion and was confident the tag of favourites would not prove Stranraer’s downfall.
He said: “It is up to us to show why we are in the league above and get through to the next round.
“We will not be treating them lightly.
“Everyone is really focused on the game and is looking forward to it.
“Obviously, our form has not been ideal for us but we need to stick together, keep working hard for each other and believe in ourselves.
“Then, the results will turn.”
The 21-year-old is no stranger to the capital club having had a brief loan spell there in 2020.
He said: “I think I was maybe 17 or just turned 18 at the time.
“It was during Covid so it got cut short.
“It was good and I enjoyed it.
“It was good for me at the time and was a good experience.
“I really enjoyed it.
“I have been back there a few times with Rangers B when they were playing in the Lowland League as well.
“It will be good to see the place again.”
Budinauckas is not the first member of his family to line up for Stranraer.
Dad Kevin, now involved with Stirling Albion, was part of the Stair Park squad alongside Scott Black.
Continuing the family footballing tradition, younger brother Kyle is currently with Thorniewood, having also been at Rangers.
Lewis said: “My dad told me all about the place.
“He told me all about the people and it was all good things, which helped make my mind up.
“My younger brother used to be at Rangers with me but not anymore.
“He is playing for our local team, Thorniewood under-21s, now.
“He is a striker and we used to be in the back garden taking shots into each other.
“It definitely helped us along the way and was fun.”
Civil Service Strollers’ Scottish Cup journey
A game of three penalties saw Civil Service Strollers through to the second round of the competition at the expense of Camelon Juniors.
The capital club travelled to Carmuirs Park and took the lead when former Edinburgh City man Marc Laird scored from the spot. The home side, who featured former Blue Ian Smith, equalised from the same penalty spot when Samuel Collumbine scored. Then, in stoppage time, Innes Lawson settled the tie from 12 yards.
Stranraer’s last five Scottish Cup games against non-SPFL opposition
- LOSS v Fraserburgh (A): 2-1 (Girvan)
- LOSS v Darvel (H): 0-1
- WIN v Brora Rangers (A): 1-3 (Own goal, Yates and Orr)
- WIN v Kelty Hearts (A): 2-3 (Orr, Robertson and Paton (Pen))
- WIN v Spartans (H): 5-0 (Duffy, Paton, Cummins and Yates x2)
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 4-0
- LOSS v The Spartans (H): 3-4 (Orr, Dolan and Lang)
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 3-1 (Armour)
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-0
- LOSS v Stenhousemuir (A): 5-0
Civil Service Strollers
- LOSS v Linlithgow Rose (A): 2-0
- LOSS v Broomhill (H): 0-3
- LOSS v East Kilbride (A): 2-0
- WIN v Camelon Juniors (A): 1-2 (Laird (Pen) and Lawson (Pen))
- WIN v Cumbernauld Colts (H): 3-1 (Lawson x2 and Amponsah)
Last time out
East Fife v Stranraer: Budinauckas, McIntosh, Girvan, Ross (O McDonald 85), Robertson, Grant (Walker 70), Forrest, Dolan (Armour 70), Sneddon, Lang, Orr (Hawkshaw 62).
Not used: Williamson, Strachan and M McDonald.
Linlithgow Rose v Civil Service Strollers: Trialist, Shaw, McConnell, Bushnell, Lawson, Clarke, McQuaid (Cole), Yeats, Parker, Valentine (Mbewe), Amponsah (Girdwood)
Not used: Cunningham, Guthrie, Balatoni and Duffy.
Five facts
1. Scott Agnew should have fond memories of Stranraer and non-SPFL opposition in the Scottish Cup. He found the net in a 4-2 victory over Girvan and also scored in a 9-0 demolition of St Cuthbert Wanderers.
2. Sunday marks the 54th birthday of former Stranraer defender David Farrell. He spent seven years with Hibernian before going on to play with Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians. He joined Stranraer from Clydebank and made more than 50 appearances before going on to join Albion Rovers.
3. Former Stranraer man Ian Smith played for Camelon Juniors against Civil Service Strollers in the first round of the competition this season. Brother of David Smith, who also played for the Blues, Ian scored one goal during his time at Stair Park. That strike proved a match-winning effort in a Scottish Cup contest away to Arbroath. The visiting team was: Currie, McDonald, Brownlie, D Smith (Lamont 59), Hamill, Cummins, McManus (Ashmore 82), Turner, I Smith, Donnelly, Crossan (Diver 89). Not used: McGowan and Avci.
4. Tomorrow will make it three different grounds on the last three trips to Edinburgh for Stranraer. The Blues lost 3-2 to Edinburgh City last time out at Meadowbank Stadium. Prior to that, they were 2-1 winners over the Citizens at Ainslie Park. In the last 10 years, they have also played at Easter Road (losing 1-0 to Hibs courtesy of a Scott Rumsby own goal) in the capital.
5. Tom Orr was the last person to score the winning goal for Stranraer in a Scottish Cup clash. That came away to Brora Rangers and Orr has since had a two-season spell at Stenhousemuir before returning to the Blues.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, James Verity
