Kevin Rutkiewicz says East Kilbride will need to be on top form to have any chance of knocking Annan Athletic out of the SPFL Trust Trophy, but they can take a scalp.
The League Two strugglers visit K-Park tonight in the second round of the competition, and Rutkiewicz says his side are very much the underdogs against a side that progressed from their Premier Sports Cup group with flying colours.
Kilby go into the clash full of confidence after stretching their lead at the top of the Lowland League with a 1-0 win over Bo’ness United on Saturday, while Annan lost 2-1 at home to Stirling Albion.
But Rutkiewicz says East Kilbride will be up against it to match their win over Motherwell ‘B’ in the first round.
He said: “It’s as tough a game as we could have picked, to be honest, at this stage in the cup.
“I think we’ll go in as underdogs. Annan have had an indifferent start to their league campaign but had a phenomenal Premier Sports Cup campaign and are into the next round against Aberdeen.
“They’re a big, physical side, they’re a team who pushed all the way last season for promotion and were very unlucky in the play-offs.
“I’m no stranger to the qualities that they have, but we’ve just got to make sure that we give a good account of ourselves, put our best foot forward, and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.
“Nothing less than us being at our best is going to be good enough.
“We go in as underdogs, rightly so, but not without a chance, that’s for sure.
“But the one thing about Annan is that you’re always in a game with them.
“They will make sure their presence is felt.”
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