Scorries boss McKenna may be the bearer of bad news
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Should Wick Academy get past Inverurie Locos and book their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup, there may be some familiar faces missing from any post-match celebration.
The Scorries head down to Aberdeenshire looking to embark on a cup run that will hopefully bring some memories and the chance of landing a plum draw against an SPFL side somewhere along the line.
Fellow Highland League side Locos will be aiming to derail Academy, who have given boss Tom McKenna a rare problem: who to leave out?
With injuries clearing up and players returning to the Harmsworth Park fold following their summer football exploits, McKenna should have a full substitutes' bench.
Because of this, some players will not be on the bus to Inverurie come Saturday morning and McKenna's biggest problem going into this one will be trying to find the words to let down the unlucky ones.
He said: "It could well be that I might have to leave some of the boys behind when we set off for Inverurie. We'll have to wait and see.
"If that is the case then I will have to be having a chat with them to give them the bad news.
"When I played, I always preferred a manager to be straight with me when I was dropped and I've adopted an open-door policy here.
"If any player feels dissatisfied about being dropped, they are welcome to come into my office so that I can explain my thinking to them about my decision.
"During my time here, such discussions have been very good. Those who I've left out in the past might not like being dropped but appreciate being told why.
"Usually they respond well by working hard in training and find themselves back in the team not long after.
"From my perspective, the team has been picking itself while we've been struggling for numbers.
I don't think he'll be asking us for any paternity leave.
"A team doing that sounds great if that team are winning but we've been on a bumpy round of late so the returning player numbers are very much welcome.
"Saying that, we still have a handful who will miss out due to injuries.
"Marc Macgregor is still some way from a return. Grant Steven is waiting to hear from the doctor as to whether or not his injury will force him out. Jack Henry has returned to training but it will be another couple of weeks before he'll be available for selection.
"Alan Farquhar became a father the other day but I don't think he'll be asking us for any paternity leave. So he'll be in the squad for Saturday."
Wick's record in the Scottish Cup over the years has seen them reach the third round on three occasions – the last of which came in season 2016/17 when they fell at SPFL side Stirling Albion in a 2-0 defeat.
Any plans of a similar run last year were thwarted at the first hurdle when they were beaten by junior side Auchinleck Talbot, who went all the way to the fifth round where they bowed out at Premier League side Hearts.
Locos will provide a tough hurdle but one McKenna is confident his boys can clear.
He added: "Given that we play Locos twice a year every year, ideally, we would have wanted to draw a team from another league to play us at home.
"On the flip side of that coin, we got that last year with Auchinleck and look what happened. At least we know what to expect with Inverurie.
"We've a decent record at their place – we've only lost once there since 2013 – but such omens only go so far. They've a very good squad on paper and we know if we're not at our best we will miss out on being in the hat for the next round."
