THE agony of a watching brief in Saturday's Scottish Cup ties will befall Renfrew's trio of red-card sinners, Greg Miller, Frank Haggerty and Bonar McKenzie.

Their involvement is restricted to vocal encouragement in Frew's tie with fierce rivals, Arthurlie.

And nobody is hurting more than McKenzie, who will miss the opportunity of lining up against his old team of eight years.

He said: "I'm absolutely gutted at the thought of missing out.

"It's a real downer but I'm confident we can manage to book a place in the next round and make me feel right as rain again. "

Renfrew are rated outsiders by bookmakers but experienced front-man Bonar believes home advantage could help his team upset the form book.

He added: "Arthurlie will not be over-confident coming here as Western Park is looked upon as a bit of a bogey ground to them.

"Guys like Neil Farqhuarson, Alan Prentice and Jim Quigley make it a habit to play out of their skin in games between the clubs.

"If they can produce big performances again and get a response from the likes of John McLay and Gordon Smith, who knows what might happen."

Assistant boss Mark Cameron is adamant that a cup win could prove the catalyst to turn Frew's season around. He said: "Our major failing in recent games has been letting our heads go down when one or two breaks go against us.

"You just cannot afford to do that in the Scottish Cup against a team of Arthurlie's quality.

"So if ever there was a time for our big game players to stand up and be counted then this is it.

Frew winger Prentice remains an injury doubt with an ankle problem, but, after missing last weekend's defeat away to Kilsyth, defensive pair Jon Crawford and Ross McMillan should be back.

Arthurlie's Paul Hilland is another banned ace ineligible to feature against his former club.

His continued unavailability is a blow for visiting gaffer Gary Faulds, who is without injured midfielder Davie Williams.

Chances are versatile ace Andy McFarlane may be press-ganged into filling the left wing back slot, allowing skipper Roland Fabiani to drop back and bolster a backline that alarmingly leaked goals in the 3-0 defeat by Pollok.

Set to provide a welcome selection boost is livewire front-man Alan McFadden, back in training after a two-week injury absence and hankering for an immediate return to playing action.

Faddy's electric pace may see him get the nod over John Bradford for the right to partner top scorer Joe Andrew in attack.

Another all-West clash where suspensions are set to impact is the Abbey Park clash between Kilwinning and Rutherglen.

The likelihood is Buffs veteran full-back Paul Mullin, the only remaining member of their Scottish Cup-winning side of 1999, will be ruled out when his red card in the third round victory over Lugar Boswell is discussed by SJFA beaks tonight.

And looking odds on to suffer a similar fate is Glens central defender Lee McShane, whose sending off was the only sour note of his side's 2-1 last round triumph over East Region super-leaguers Oakley.

The towering McShane's strength and combative nature could prove invaluable down in Ayrshire.

However, if the worst happens, then the Central District outfit have a ready made replacement standing by, in veteran stopper Ged Gardiner. Petershill will look to either Max Asanti or James McLernon to fill the boots of suspended striker Kieron Downs when travelling up to face Fife shock troops Ballingry Rovers.

East Kilbride Thistle have enough strength in depth to cover the enforced absence of key defender John McAulay, whose dismissal against Irvine Meadow last weekend counts him out for the visit of the Ayrshire town's lesser lights, Irvine Vics.