GERRY: I WILL GIVE HEARTS THE BY-PASS

STRANRAER boss Gerry Britton will resist the temptation to throw himself into their biggest game of the season against Hearts - because he would be cheating his players.

The veteran striker is still registered as a player and would offer a wealth of Premier League experience from his days at Dunfermline, Livingston, Partick Thistle and Motherwell.

But honest Gerry, 36, admitted it would be unforgivable to pitch himself into the cup clash ahead of the guys who have fought so hard to bring this glamour tie to Stair Park.

He said: "There's no way I would step in for this one.

"I've only played one game this season and have no right to take a place ahead of the guys who have got us this far.

"I see this as the boys' reward for the effort they put in to get through tough earlier ties against Alloa and Forfar - they deserve to be part of an occasion like this.

"Everyone wants to play against top players in front of a full house.

"From the moment the draw was made I could see the excitement among the squad.

"We were in the team room watching on TV when Hearts came out the bag and the boys have been buzzing ever since.

"Obviously we have been concentrating on the league since then but having something like that on the horizon is a good motivation to help the players focus.

"They all want to play and know they must work hard to stay in the team."

Like everyone else Britton has been amazed to read the stories of turmoil coming out of Hearts almost every week.

He's heard all the talk about dressing-room unrest but watching the Jambos' 3-2 Edinburgh derby win last week showed him just how dangerous they can be.

Gerry said: "There has been a lot of talk about what's happening at Hearts but it won't have any bearing on the tie.

"We can only concentrate on our own performance and not focus too much on what the other team is doing.

"They showed plenty of unity and fight to win against Hibs and I'm in no doubt of the quality we'll face - whoever they pick.

"Hearts have a bigger squad and can be spoiled for choice but that derby win showed the quality they have no matter who plays."

Stranraer sit near the foot of Division Two but Britton (below) reckons the squad is progressing well considering he started the season with only one player on the books.

And he wants his troops to prove how far they've come with a proud performance against one of Scotland's biggest teams.

He said: "It has been a strange season, having started with such a rush job to get a team together for the start of the league campaign.

"I'm happy enough but we need to be more consistent. We must get a run going.

"We must be more solid and string results together to move up the table and hopefully the longer my players play together the better they'll get.

"This test in the cup is a valuable experience but I don't want it to be just about taking part.

"It's important we give a good account of ourselves and come off proud of our performance."

Taken from the Sunday Mail