PRESTON Athletic boss Colin Jack is hoping the demolition of Cockenzie Power Station’s chimneys can help his team sweep aside Fort William in the Scottish Cup.

The Panners are hoping to make it through to the second round of the competition for the second time in five years when they welcome their visitors from the Highland League on Saturday at 3pm.

Jack felt his side was showing signs of improvement and predicted a tight affair at the Pennypit, where he hoped his side would be on cheered by a loud home crowd.

He told Courier Sport: “We’re glad it is a home tie. With the power station’s chimneys being knocked down we are hoping to get a decent crowd.

“The glamour of the Scottish Cup is you can draw teams from all over and we are looking forward to the game. We have had Fort William watched a couple of times and we know they compete in a really difficult league. There are some really good teams in the Highland League.

“We don’t have the in-depth knowledge we would for a Lowland League team but we have a decent understanding of what we need to do.”

Ally Ewen’s men sit second-bottom of the Highland League, having won just two of their opening 10 games.

On Saturday, they were edged out 5-3 at home to fourth-placed Brora Rangers as they only sit above rock bottom Rothes.

Last season’s Scottish Cup adventure for Preston came to an end at the first hurdle when Threave Rovers won 2-1 at the Pennypit.

Much like Fort William, Preston’s form so far in the Lowland League has been patchy, with three wins, two draws and five defeats from their opening 10 games. However, that is still enough to leave them just three points short of their total from the whole of last season.

Jack said: “If we can get to 14 points then that is definitely something of a positive step, particularly so early in the season.

“It’s all about getting a regular run of players because we have not really settled on a regular team. Once we do that, I think we will do well.”

The Panners are without Jamie Beaton for the Scottish Cup clash after he was one of three players sent off for East Fife in last year’s cup defeat to Berwick Rangers.

However, they are boosted by the arrival of Jack McCue, who joined the club on loan from Airdrie ahead of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Selkirk.

Jack added: “I know Jack from when I was at Hibs previously.

“I know Iain King, the Airdrie chief executive, really well and he has helped us out.

“He is a really talented player, good on the ball and can make things happen.

“He nearly scored a great goal on Saturday when he beat three or four players but his shot was just past the post.”

The manager felt his side were showing signs of improvement and could consider themselves unlucky not to have picked up another four or five points already this campaign.

He added: “We have not done as well as we would hope at the Pennypit this year. “The last two games there we have only picked up one point.

“Both performances deserved to get more but we have only picked up the one point.

“Home advantage is certainly is a benefit because it means not having to travel. But hopefully, we get a good crowd behind us and that gives us a little edge.”