Arniston boss Osbourne has been flat-out

“I’ve slipped a disc in my back and have had to spend much of this week lying flat out in bed,” he revealed. “Jock Landels and Andy Ritchie have taken our two training sessions and I’ve just had to stay in the ackground.

“I’ll definitely be at the game, though I might have to be in the background a bit then as well as it could be sore if I start shouting.”

One attempt to play the game, which was set up after the Premier Division side secured a well-deserved 1-1 draw in Ayrshire, has already failed due to the weather.

“We thought there was a great chance of it being on last Saturday and were devastated when it was called off,” added Osbourne.

“The pitch has been cut and rolled this week and with the temperature rising a bit over the last couple of days it should go-ahead this time.” Following last weekend’s postponement, Arniston headed indoors at Riccarton to play a nine-a-side practice match.

“It was designed to let them work on their sharpness but I thought it was a flat session,” said Osbourne. “I wasn’t happy and made the players aware of that. Happily, their attitude at training on Tuesday was tremendous.”

The winners will be at home to Kelty in the last 16 but Osbourne says his players can’t afford to start getting ahead of themselves.

“We’ve got a tough tie on our hands and will have another tough one against another Super League side if we get through,” he added.

Aaron Ponton, meanwhile, has swapped one Rangers for another, having moved from Berwick to Arniston on loan for the rest of the season.

“He’s a left-sided player with great delivery and good pace,” said Osbourne, who is also hoping to bolster his striking options in the near future.