East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz has warned that Open Goal Broomhill will be fired up for their Broadwood showdown, following their 3-1 weekend defeat to Civil Service Strollers.
Rutkiewicz says his own instinct was to look for a reaction from his Kilby side when they lost 4-3 to Rangers 'B' last week, resulting in a 4-1 thumping of Hearts 'B' at the weekend.
Both sides go into this evening's Lowland League clash with two wins out of three, and Rutkiewicz reckons it will be a tasty encounter.
He said: "I think it's going to be difficult. I've seen them a couple of times in pre-season and they're high energy, with loads of enthusiasm, coming from [manager] Si Ferry and [assistant] Derek Lyle on the side-lines.
"Si will be sitting, probably eagerly anticipating the reaction from their game against Strollers, because that will be the first time they've been beat.
"Rangers was the first time with my squad, and I was thinking 'right, let's see what kind of reaction I get', so I think he will be champing at the bit for Tuesday.
"I think it's going to be a difficult game, I think Broomhill are vastly improved from what they were.
"There's obviously a financial change in them, in that they're a wee bit richer, and have been able to attract some good players."
Kilby's own reaction to their first defeat of the season was to beat Hearts 4-1 at the weekend.
A wonder-save from Kilmarnock loan keeper Curtis Lyle rekindled East Kilbride’s fire, preventing Makenzie Kirk from levelling at 2-1.
Kilby were 2-0 up at the interval through Joao Victoria and Bob McHugh, with Macaulay Tait pulling a goal back for the young Jambos.
Lyle saved from Kirk - the son of former Hearts star Andy - and Victoria grabbed his second, before a Neil McLaughlin penalty wrapped up the points after Ronan Hughes was fouled inside the box.
Rutkiewicz said: “I thought in the middle part of the game Hearts came into it and had us rattled a wee bit, to be honest.
“At 2-1 Curtis made a fabulous save from Makenzie Kirk, and from that moment, I don’t know if it was the relief of getting away with that one, or whatever, but I felt we really stepped it up.
“We scored a great third goal from Bob McHugh with great skill for the cross, and from Joao showing great desire to get in there to score.
“From there I felt we really started to motor and could probably have nabbed another couple of goals if I’m being super-greedy.
“But it was a good, convincing win, that puts us back on track after a disappointing night against Rangers.”
Rutkiewicz added: “I’m very comfortable that we can win games, but what we need to find as a group is how not to lose them.
“We are a big raggy, we are a bit fragmented and naive at times against the ball, but I think that just comes from the turnover of player – which was big – and not having the opportunity to iron out these details right at this minute.
“But we have a threat, we’ve got goals and the boys are gelling that side of the game well.
“To be honest, with the quality we have they should be a threat.
“We rely a wee bit on individual ability at the minute, but hopefully as the weeks go by we begin to get that wee bit more cohesion, to be a wee bit harder to break down, a wee bit meaner, a wee bit stiffer and a wee bit uglier.
“But I’m delighted with the result, and hopefully we can crack on.”
East Kilbride continue their campaign with a visit to Celtic 'B' at New Broomfield on Friday night.
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