Why Raith Rovers goalkeeper Josh Rae is relishing prospect of upcoming Scottish Cup tie at Troon
With the monotony of William Hill Championship league football seeing teams play each other four times every season, the cups can sometimes provide a welcome ‘break from the norm’.
And that will be the case for Raith Rovers on Saturday, November 28, when they travel to Ayrshire to face Lowland League West outfit Troon at Portland Park.
“I always find with the cup draws, you don't really want teams around the same league, you want something different,” Raith goalkeeper Josh Rae told the Fife Free Press.
"And when it's this sort of round, you want something different to go away and experience it. It'll be a difficult game, those games always are, because they've got nothing to lose and they'll just be going for it.
"So we need to be right on it. And if we can manage to get through that, then that's when you want a big draw or another favourable one that you can go fully for it.
"You've seen it with Dunfermline last season, getting a good run in the cup. So that's what we're aiming for this season, and we'll be fully focused whenever that comes around.”
When asked if he’d ever previously faced non-league opposition, Rae added: “I actually think the lowest I've ever played against in the cups would be Lowland League. And I'm pretty sure it'll be a lot different going down there. It'll be a battle, but one we need to win.”
Rae and his Raith mates showed their cup prowess in style last season when winning the KDM Evolution Trophy, going all the way to the final before beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-1 at Firhill Stadium.
"That was a brilliant day,” Ray said. “Obviously, a couple of games leading up to the final were as well.
"I experienced it with Airdrie as well, but unfortunately I was injured for the final.
"So, to actually play in the final and get it over the line was brilliant.
"In this season, we just need to try and defend it as best we can. It won't be easy.
"I don't know if anyone's ever won it back-to-back (It has been done twice before) I'm not too sure. But we’ll be aiming to do that, and the further you go on in that competition, the more exciting it gets. In the first few rounds, you just need to try and get through, and then deal with the later stages whenever you get there.”