CROSSGATES Primrose manager Alan Campbell says taking the club to a cup final would be “phenomenal” and that his players will “put everything into it”.

The Humbug Park outfit travel to Tranent tomorrow (Friday) for the chance to reach the King Cup final against either Linlithgow Rose or Bonnyrigg Rose on June 1.

Crossgates, who finished fifth in Conference B of the East of Scotland League, lost 4-1 at Tranent in February but turned the tables with victory by the same scoreline the following month.

Campbell reckons his team will be underdogs but said: “We’ll have a game plan and, hopefully, we can upset the odds.

“To get to a final would be phenomenal. The players know that and will put everything into it.

“It’ll be a tight game. We’ve only lost one of our last eight or nine, so they’ll need a good performance to beat us.

“They’ll be huge favourites I imagine and be under a bit more pressure to get to the final. We’re used to having the underdog tag and have used it well this year.

“We’re very much looking forward to it.”

He continued: "Linlithgow and Bonnyrigg are two heavyweights at our level, so I'm sure ourselves and Tranent were happy to avoid them.

"But Tranent are formidable opposition. They're very good at home - I think they've only lost twice at home - and have some very good players like Ian Black.

"Over the two games we've had against them already this season, they beat us 4-1 there but it was quite tight for an hour, and I didn't think the scoreline reflected the game.

"It was similar when we played them at Crossgates; we beat them 4-1 and were three goals up after the first 20 minutes, but they had the majority of the play after that.

"Most teams finished 2-3 weeks ago but we're still going. Before the quarter-final, we had a fortnight's break, then we played, were off the next Saturday and then had the semi-final.

"It's been a bit stop-start but we'll prepare for Friday."

Campbell will be without Mark Forbes, who is suspended following his red card in the quarter-final win at Ormiston, and Blair Clark for the game, which kicks off at 7pm at Foresters Park.

Meanwhile the club have announced that their whole squad have agreed new contracts to remain at Humbug Park for next season, in which they will play in the East of Scotland League's new Premier Division.

The 16-team league will also feature Blackburn United, Bo'ness United, Bonnyrigg Rose / Whitehill Welfare, Broxburn Athletic, Camelon Juniors, Dunbar United, Dundonald Bluebell, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Jeanfield Swifts, Linlithgow Rose, Musselburgh Athletic, Newtongrange Star, Penicuik Athletic, Sauchie and Tranent.

Preparations for the new campaign will also include five pre-season fixtures, which begin with a trip to Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts on July 10.

Games at Oakley United and Lochgelly Albert follow on July 13 and 16 respectively, before they play Civil Service Strollers at home on July 18.

Primrose then finish their pre-season schedule with a Humbug meeting with the Pars on July 21.