The William Hill Scottish Cup returns this weekend, with 32 teams ready to battle for a place in the Fourth Round of the 2019-20 competition.

A clash of local rivals kicks the weekend off on Friday night as Linlithgow Rose take on Falkirk live on BBC Scotland. The fixture will see League One outfit Falkirk make the short trip to Prestonfield to take on East of Scotland League opposition in what is an intriguing fixture in the 2019-20 competition.

The Rose have enjoyed a fruitful run in the competition already since entering in Preliminary Round One. They have manoeuvred ties against Preston Athletic, Jeanfield Swifts, Huntly and University of Stirling on their way to a spot in the Third Round.

Falkirk enter the competition at this stage and now face a short journey east in what is one of the standout ties of the round.

The Friday night fixture is followed by 15 3pm kick-offs on Saturday across the country. Among the sides competing are six Championship outfits, who enter the competition at this stage.

Alloa Athletic, under the stewardship of former Scotland assistant Peter Grant, will make the long trip north to take on Elgin City. The League Two side emerged victorious on their own turf against Berwick Rangers in the Second Round, and will be desperate to keep their cup dreams alive.

Arbroath face a trip to take on Auchinleck Talbot, who managed to progress past Cove Rangers in the Second Round. The game will be played at Beechwood Park, the site of Auchinleck Talbot’s giant-killing victory over Ayr United in last season’s competition.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline Athletic face a trip south as they prepare for their clash against Stranraer. Both sides enter the competition at this stage, with Stranraer currently occupying bottom spot in League One.

The two teams meet for the first time since they competed in League One in the 2015/16 campaign. There was no shortage of goals in their previous two meetings, with Stranraer winning 4-1 and Dunfermline winning 6-1 in their thrilling encounters.

Greenock Morton have been drawn at home for their Third Round game against Brora Rangers, who stormed in to the Third Round with a 7-0 victory away from home against Clachnacuddin. The only side to have enjoyed a more emphatic start to the competition this year was Jeanfield Swifts, who won 9-1 in their Preliminary Round One game against Coldstream.

It’s the clash of the Queen’s as Queen of the South and Queen’s Park go head-to-head on Saturday. The two teams have not met in the Scottish Cup since 1996, when their one and only encounter in this competition ended in a 4-2 victory for Queen’s Park in Dumfries. The two outfits are not complete strangers though, having met each other in the League Cup three years ago. The Doonhamers clinched that match, winning 2-0.

Partick Thistle begin their Cup campaign under the guidance of new manager Ian McCall. The Jags currently sit bottom of the Championship and face Penicuik Athletic on Saturday afternoon.

While the Glaswegians will be considered favourites for this one, they face an East of Scotland League opponent who will be full of confidence having entered the William Hill Scottish Cup in Preliminary Round 2 and progressed in style to the Third Round.

Elsewhere, Albion Rovers host high-flying Airdrieonians who currently sit top of League One. It may have taken a replay, after drawing 1-1 against Fort William in the Second Round, but the Wee Rovers produced an emphatic display on the road to win 5-0 and secure passage to the Third Round.

Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic face another home clash this weekend in the William Hill Scottish Cup, as they host Montrose. The home side’s 2-0 victory over Buckie Thistle was broadcast live on BBC Scotland in the Second Round and showcased exactly what Montrose can expect from currently second placed Lowland League side.

A familiar fixture between League One opponents Dumbarton and Forfar Athletic is also set to take place this weekend. The two teams are just three place apart in the league and played as recently as last month. In that match, Dumbarton came out on top as they won 3-1 at the Dumbarton Football Stadium.

Similarly, League Two sides Edinburgh City and Annan Athletic are set to go head-to-head in the Third Round for their second meeting of the season. The two teams met in League Two action in September, when Edinburgh City ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

East Fife face a home fixture against BSC Glasgow in their first game of this season’s William Hill Scottish Cup. The visitors came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Lochee United before emerging victorious in the replay, winning 2-1.

It is Highland League v Lowland League when Formartine United take on East Kilbride this weekend. The home side edged past Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Second Round, winning 2-1 in a dramatic replay in Netherdale. East Kilbride, meanwhile, defeated Gretna 2008 3-1 as they secured their spot in the Third Round.

Broxburn Athletic have played in every stage of this season’s William Hill Scottish Cup, entering in Preliminary Round One back in August. They face a trip to take on Inverurie Loco Works, who entered the competition in the First Round.

Another all League One fixture see’s Raith Rovers host Peterhead on Saturday afternoon. The two teams have played each other three times already this season, twice in the League and once in the League Cup. The most recent encounter was earlier this month as Peterhead won 2-0. The two other meetings ended positively for Raith Rovers, as they won 4-0 in the league and 3-1 in the cup.

The final game of the round sees another League One side, Clyde, travel to take on Stirling Albion. The home side earned their spot in this weekend’s Third Round with a 2-0 victory over Strathspey Thistle, and now have Danny Lennon’s side standing between them and a place in the Fourth Round.

Full Third Round fixture list

Linlithgow Rose v Falkirk (Friday, 7.05pm)
Albion Rovers v Airdrieonians
Auchinleck Talbot v Arbroath
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Montrose
Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic
East Fife v BSC Glasgow
Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic
Elgin City v Alloa Athletic
Formartine United v East Kilbride
Greenock Morton v Brora Rangers
Inverurie Loco Works v Broxburn Athletic
Partick Thistle v Penicuik Athletic
Queen of the South v Queen's Park
Raith Rovers v Peterhead
Stirling Albion v Clyde
Stranraer v Dunfermline Athletic

Fourth Round Draw
The draw for the Fourth Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup will take place on Sunday evening, live on Sportcene.