Tommy Sloan hopes Hearts will play their reserves – and give Auchinleck a fighting chance in their biggest ever game, writes Mike Wilson.
Jambos boss Robbie Neilson has paid Talbot the ultimate respect by slipping into Beechwood Park to run the rule.
Tickets for the 3200 crowd were snapped up within two hours as cup tie fever engulfs the village.
But those who missed out have the consolation that Saturday’s mouth-watering Scottish Cup clash is being screened live on BBC Scotland at 12.30pm.
Incredibly it’s the third meeting of the clubs in a decade with a 1-0 defeat in 2012 followed by a 4-0 loss seven years later.
Legend gaffer Sloan admits he’ll be happy if Jambos field their stiffs against his junior cracks.
Tucker said: “We face a mammoth task against arguably the third best team in Scotland on current form. They are not taking us lightly and I was told by our secretary that the Hearts management team were there to watch us at the weekend although I didn’t meet them.
“It will be a last minute decision if I get the chance to see Hearts in action as their only fixture before the tie coincides with one of our two training nights.
“Their next game after the cup tie is at home to Celtic the following midweek so hopefully they will have one eye on that.
“I would love it if they decided to play their reserves and save their first team for the Celtic game.
“Whoever they send, it will still be a huge task as they have a big squad and we know we’re up against it. I want us to put on a good performance and score, which we haven’t managed twice before.
“Hearts have been given a fair share of tickets so it’s going to be a huge occasion with a great atmosphere.
“At least we’re going into the game upbeat by winning our last two games after losing the two before that.”
Gordon Pope’s stoppage-time equaliser that was ruled out at Tynecastle in 2012 still rankles.
Paulo Sergio’s Hearts had to wait until six minutes from time to edge ahead through Gordon Smith.
Andy Leishman, who had saved a Fraser Mullen penalty, fumbled in a clash with Bryan Slavin, allowing Smith to cash in. Pope’s late strike was ruled out by ref John Beaton to the disgust of Talbot fans in the 8895 crowd. Sloan recalls: “Big Andy made some great saves and was invited back to Tynecastle for a week’s trial after the game. However, they changed manager soon after and nothing more came of it. Gordon’s disallowed goal was sore at the time but we have to move on.”
Teams that day were: Hearts: MacDonald; Mullen, Webster, Barr, Grainger; Driver, Black, Robinson, Novikovas; Skacel, Smith. Subs: Ridgers, Templeton, Obua, Glen, Morton.
Auchinleck: Leishman; Robb, McGoldrick, Pettigrew, Pope; Latta, Faulds, White, Spence, Young; Milliken. Subs: McGarrity, Park, McCann, Gillies, Slavin.
Seven years later, Talbot returned to Tynecastle in a fourth round tie, their reward for beating Ayr United 1-0 a few weeks earlier.
Almost 2000 noisy Beechwood fans were in the 14,946 crowd but saw Hearts win 4-0 with goals from Christophe Berra, Demetri Mitchell, Steven MacLean and Aidan Keena.
Sloan felt Talbot were unlucky not to at least manage a consolation and remembers: “We created a few chances but unfortunately couldn’t take any.”
Teams: Hearts: Doyle; Smith, Souttar, Berra, Mitchell; Clare, Lee, Sutchuin Djoum; Naismith, MacLean, Ikpeazu. Subs: Zlamal, Shaughnessy, Bozanic, Mulraney, Vanecek, Keena, Morrison.
Auchinleck: Leishman; Lyle, McPherson, McCracken, Pope; S Wilson, Armstrong, White, Hyslop, Glasgow; G Wilson. Subs: Samson, McIlroy, Kemp, Shankland, Waite, Harvey, Hewitt.
•Talbot warmed up on Saturday by twice coming from behind to beat Irvine Meadow 3-2 and seal a Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final trip to Shotts.
But it wasn’t without cost as Craig McCracken injured himself celebrating his winner. Sloan revealed: “Craig and Keir Samson both passed fitness tests to play.
Craig had a wee calf strain beforehand but after running to celebrate his goal he then had to come off with cramp.
“We will have a look at both of them later this week to see if they will be available.”
Graham Wilson cancelled out Mick Wardrope’s header only for Meadow to regain the lead with a Mark McLennan penalty.
Samson levelled with a glancing header before McCracken climbed to nod an 88th minute winner in off the underside of the bar.
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
