AUCHINLECK Talbot take on Pollok in the Junior Cup this weekend and boss Tommy Sloan is relishing another “cracking cup tie”.

The last 16 tie at Beechwood Park will be the second meeting of the sides in fortnight after Talbot’s 2-1 win at Newlandsfield on February 3.

And Sloan knows how tough a challenge the Glasgow side can pose. He said: “There is the familiarity aspect because we played them the other week. They’ll be fired up for it after we turned them over up there. It will be a tough tie with two of the big sides in the cup.

“We did well that day and deserved to win it. They had two defenders out that day and they’ll be back for this week so it will be a different line up for them. I might change our line up a bit.

“We’ve had good results recently and are playing well. Don’t get me wrong, we have a bit to go yet but we’ve been in good form. The fitness for one or two is maybe not what it should be.”

Several matches have been postponed due to the adverse weather in recent weeks – including Talbot’s fourth round tie against Cumnock and their game last weekend against Hurlford United at Blair Park.

However, Sloan wasn’t worried about the prospect of another postponement this weekend. The Talbot boss added: “I’ve not been up at Auchinleck and it seems like Ayrshire has got the worst of the snow but it’s early in the week and I would expect it to go ahead if the forecast is correct.

“I had spoken to Henry [Dumigan] and he thinks so. Hopefully we will get it on because it is a cracking cup tie.”

Off the field, Sloan received a bit of good fortune last week after winning the Ayr United Five Star Weekly lottery jackpot plus tickets to the Honest Men’s 6-1 Scottish Cup humbling by Rangers at Somerset Park.

He admitted he was a bit surprised when he found out. Sloan said: “I thought it was a wind up.

“I got the call and thought there’s no way. I didn’t start to believe I’d won until I got the tickets for the game through in the post. It was a nice wee surprise.”