Raith Rovers defender Paul Hanlon will be at the centre of the Scottish Cup draw this weekend. The experienced centre-back, who lifted the trophy with Hibernian a decade ago, will join host Gordon Duncan to conduct the first round draw live on Sunday.
Hanlon's involvement adds a notable SPFL presence to the preliminary round proceedings. The final ten places in the first round will be decided across ten matches this Friday and Saturday. Four clubs-Dundee North End, Penicuik Athletic, St Andrews United and Stonehaven-have already handled two previous rounds to reach this stage.
The action begins on Friday night at New Tinto Park where St Cadoc's welcome Glasgow University. The remaining nine fixtures are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The victorious sides from these ties will join clubs from the Highland League and the two Lowland Football League divisions in the first round proper.
The Draw Details
The draw itself is set for 6pm on Sunday and will be broadcast live on the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup YouTube channel. Hanlon's role as a guest draw conductor provides a link between the cup's early stages and the professional game. His experience of winning the competition in 2016 brings a tangible connection to the trophy for all the clubs hoping to progress.
For Raith Rovers, the focus remains on their own campaign which will begin in a later round. Fans can track the club's schedule and the evolving cup picture on our dedicated fixtures page. The full squad list, including Hanlon's profile, is available on the squad section.
The Scottish Cup represents a major target for the Kirkcaldy club, who last reached the final in 1913. Securing a favourable draw in the later stages could be key to any deep run this season. The club's next match is a Championship fixture against Ayr United at Stark's Park on Saturday.
