Andy Ryan admits it would be a "disaster" if Hamilton Accies don't progress in the Scottish Cup after they were paired with Lowland League East Kilbride in the third round draw.
But the Accies striker is looking forward to taking on his former Stirling Albion boss Kevin Rutkiewicz - now the EK boss - when the sides meet at New Douglas Park next month, which will see fellow Accies stars Ronan Hughes and Kyle Munro return to the club following their summer switches to K-Park.
Striker Ryan knows Accies will go into the tie as huge favourites, playing three tiers above their rivals, and is all too aware of how wrong it can go at this stage of the competition, following last season's shock third round exit to West of Scotland League outfit Auchinleck Talbot.
He said: "We need to win that game - and if we don't it will be a disaster - because we are the Championship side.
"It's a one-off game and there is always that potential for it to be a banana skin.
"We need to make sure that doesn't become the case.
"We need to use our full-time element and experience to win the game.
"East Kilbride have got a few good players, an experienced squad, and in these cup draws anything can happen, but it is up to us as the Championship side - especially at home - to go and look to win that game."
He added: "The Talbot game is always going to be in the back of our mind.
"We knew that was a difficult game going down there, but the advantage we have this time is being on our own, big pitch that we are used to playing on.
"Hopefully that works to our advantage."
On being reunited with some familiar faces when the tie comes along, Ryan said: "I've got loads of time for Kevin. I thoroughly enjoyed my time under him at Stirling, he was a great gaffer.
"There's been a wee bit of chit-chat about it with him and some of the other boys.
"Ronan and Kyle will be coming back here looking to prove a point - as I would be if I was going back to my old club - so they will probably lift their game 10-20 per cent.
"But the onus is on us to take the game to them."
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