It used to be the case that the 3rd round had all the SPL teams in the hat but the recent change which included the Juniors altered the setup and now it is the 4th round which whets the appetite for followers of the top teams in the country. But don't suggest to players or fans of the teams involved this Saturday that they are bit part actors on the stage.
Sixteen of those listed below will make it through to round four on the weekend of January 9/10 with every prospect of a big pay day or a giant killing act in prospect. Who do you fancy for our opening tie in what is now the Active Nation Scottish Cup?
The next round will see the 16 winners joined by last season's 12 from the SPL together with St Johnstone, Partick Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic and Dundee as top four from the SFL.
The ties to be played are :-
Airdrie United v Queen of the South
Ross County v Berwick Rangers
Threave Rovers v Inverurie Loco Works
Deveronvale v Ayr United
Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic
Albion Rovers v Elgin City
Stirling Albion v Auchinleck Talbot
Clyde v Livingston
Irvine Meadow v Arbroath
Edinburgh City v Keith
Wick Academy v Brechin City
Stenhousemuir v Cove Rangers
Greenock Morton v Dumbarton
Montrose v East Fife
Raith Rovers v Peterhead
Spartans v Forfar Athletic
The timetable for the rest of the competition is :-
Round 4 - Saturday, 9th January, 2010
Round 5 - Saturday, 6th February, 2010
Round 6 - Saturday, 13th March, 2010
Semi-Finals - Saturday, 10th & Sunday, 11th April, 2010 (moving to midweek of 13th and 14th April, 2010, if Scottish club(s) involvement in later stages of UEFA club competitions)
Final - Saturday, 15th May, 2010