PRESTON Athletic manager Craig Nisbet is looking forward to the challenge of facing senior league opposition at the Pennypit next month.

League Two side Montrose will visit Prestonpans in the second round of the William Hill Scottish Cup, after the Panners overcame Nairn County in their first round tie on Saturday.

Nisbet was delighted to have progressed, and is relishing the prospect of welcoming Paul Hegarty's side.

He told Courier Sport: "We were massive underdogs against Nairn, so go to up there and come away with a positive result was really encouraging.

"The Montrose game is one of the plum draws and we will take that every day of the week."

The 37-year-old former Preston Athletic player, who succeeded Colin Jack in the dugout, hopes to pass on his experiences of playing senior league oppositon ahead of the match.

Nisbet said: "I can remember playing Hamilton Accies [then Division Two] in the cup and we'll be sitting down with the players and telling them what to expect.

"We've got a free hit at it – nobody expects us to do anything but I know we can cause [them] problems.

"I've got a few contacts in League Two who will have played against them already and I'll be speaking to them and trying to put together a plan."

The Panners' boss admitted he was relieved to see the club avoid another long away journey, and hopes the tie will give the club an off-field boost.

"I'll admit I was relieved to see Wick come out of the hat before us – I don't think we'd have wanted another seven or eight our bus journey.

"The fact that the game is at home is massive – it will be a great occasion and hopefully the people in the town come out and support us.

"We'll be massive underdogs on the day, but the Montrose players won't be used to coming to places like the Pennypit, where the crowd are right on top of you and the pitch is maybe not as well maintained."

The visitors are in eighth place in League Two, with just one win in their last eight games.

Nisbet added: "They're having some problems in the league, but so are we, but there's a big step between the two.

"We'll be giving it everything to get a result."

He hopes the fixture will inspire his side to improve on their form in the Lowland League, starting with the visit of Stirling University on Saturday.

Preston Athletic will welcome Montrose on October 22.