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Ross County have been handed a home tie against Forfar Athletic in the first round of the Tennents Scottish Cup and face the prospect of a visit to Press and Journal Highland League champions Peterhead in the second round following yesterday's draw in Glasgow.
If County do travel to Buchan on January 8, it will be the first time they have met a Highland League side since they stepped up to the senior ranks five years ago.
However, Ross County boss Neale Cooper preferred to take it one game at a time.
He said: "We'll just take first things first and before any thoughts of travelling to Peterhead we have a very difficult first-round tie against Forfar. We beat Forfar earlier in the season in the League Cup, but they're a good, well organised side.
However, even if we beat Forfar, a trip to Peterhead is another extremely tricky tie as I've watched several Highland League games this season and the standard is high.
"A draw like that is what cup football is all about. Peterhead against Ross County would be a classic tie for the clubs and their fans."
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Ross County will look to make it a hat-trick of wins over Clyde this season when they travel to Broadwood this afternoon. Having already beaten the Bully Wee by 2-0 at home in the league and 4-0 at Broadwood on cup duty, County boss Neale Cooper is hopeful of a repeat performance.
Cooper said: "Although we have beaten them twice already this term, we know that they are a well organised outfit and will provide very tough opposition.
"However, we were pleased with our win last week, and more especially at not giving away any goals. It's nice when you are able to keep it tight at the back and it gives a boost to your whole defence."
County will be without the suspended Kenny Gilbert and John Fraser, while Frank Escalon is still laid low with a troublesome virus. Steve Ferguson has a hamstring problem and John McGlashan a knee ligament injury.
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Ross County boss Neale Cooper has challenged his players to get the Third Division champions' promotion challenge back on track at Victoria Park tonight at the expense of Stirling Albion.
The Dingwall club has stuttered in recent weeks, falling off the Second Division promotion pace to sixth place, six points adrift of leaders Arbroath, and Cooper wants to see his players launch a fightback.
He said: "A win over Stirling Albion would lift us right back into the leading group and that's where we need to be and it's up to the players to deliver it in what is a massive game for us.
"We have been a bit disappointing recently and our confidence has suffered a bit but it's probably down to lack of continuity. Suspensions and injuries haven't helped us put out a settled side."
Cooper's selection choice will again be limited by the absences of Franck Escalon, Steve Ferguson, Kenny Gilbert, John McGlashan and Craig Tully, who is suspended, but John Fraser comes back into contention.
Opposite number John Philliben, who stepped back into the Stirling Albion side last Saturday as the freed Brian Martin's replacement, played down Cooper's selection problems, predicting: "County will still be a handful."
He continued: "We've got a full squad available but, even with their problems, County will be difficult to beat because their side is packed with quality and we can expect problems from the likes of George Shaw, Gary Wood and Derek Holmes if we're not concentrating 100% on the job.
"I know Neale will be selling this to his players as a big game for them, but it's an even bigger one for us because a win would lift us right into the midtable group in a very competitive division.
"Everyone in this league can beat everybody else and, hopefully, we'll prove that in Dingwall."
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Ross County boss Neale Cooper admits that the pressure is on him after recent disappointing results, but the former Don is by reputation a fighter, and intends to weather the storm and face any criticism head on.
Cooper said: "I know that I am in the firing line at the moment and that the next few games are crucial for ourselves.
"I've been in the game long enough and I'm big enough to take the pressure and let the players relax a bit and just get on with it. I know that the fans have been disappointed with recent performances, but while not making excuses we have been hit with numerous injuries and several suspensions over the last two months.
"We have got to start taking some of the chances we've been making and to perform week in week out and I'd urge our supporters to get right behind the players and I'll take any flak that's going."
Another former Don, Brian Irvine, will miss this afternoon's crucial Second Division clash with league leaders Arbroath at Gayfield with a groin strain that will keep him out of action for the next two to three weeks. Striker Gary Wood is out with a hamstring injury and George Shaw is doubtful with another groin strain.
In addition, former Dundee United man Tonny Mols, who turned out for County last week, has decided to accept a contract from a Belgian club and will be an absentee.
Better news for boss Cooper is the return of Kenny Gilbert and Steve Ferguson, whose fighting qualities have been sorely missed of late.
Meanwhile, Arbroath boss David Baikie welcomes back ace striker Colin McGlashan after suspension, while Jim Thomson is available again after work commitments.
Baikie believes that County will take time to find their feet. He said: "They've brought in a lot of new players and it takes time to get the blend right. It seems that they are pulling in a new player every other week giving Neale Cooper certainly the biggest and probably the best squad in the division.
"We will go into the game with a positive attitude as it's a tough one and these are generally the fixtures we do well in. In a sense, we will start as underdogs for this one because of the strength of their squad but that doesn't worry us."
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