THE Scottish Cup used to consist of six first-round ties and eight at

the next stage before the survivors made the draw with the big guns.

With the Scottish League now consisting of 40 clubs, the division of

ties is now an untidy four in the first round and 12 in the second.

The SFA's ambivalent attitude to seeding protects the league's top-20

clubs but penalises the bottom half. Second division Dumbarton went out

in the first round to Stirling Albion, who visit Brechin today in the

second round, while Queen of the South and Clyde are two other Division

2 sides who meet head to head.

The eight non-league teams were fortunate to receive first-round byes,

and four of them are in direct conflict today.

Keith or Huntley will continue to represent the Highlands after their

meeting today, while Burntisland Shipyard will be expected to advance at

the expense of St Cuthbert Wanderers, who lost 11 goals to Ross County

last year.

Ian Thain, the Keith keeper, will be making his 208th consecutive

appearance in the derby clash -- it will be five years and a day since

he last missed a Keith game.

Ross County should be unchanged for their visit to Alloa, who are hit

by suspensions, injuries, and 'flu.

These clubs know each other well having met twice already in the cup

in recent years before becoming third division rivals this term.

Stirling include keeper Mike Monaghan for the visit to Brechin. He

steps in for Mark McGeown, who was injured in Albion's abandoned game at

Broadwood earlier this week.

Stenhousemuir wait for John McNiven for the home game against

Arbroath, while East Fife should be unchanged for their home tie against

Gala Fairydean whose midfielder, Craig Sinclair, may be the player to

watch.

Berwick Rangers' Mark Wilson is injured and Martin Neil suspended for

the visit to Buckie, while Cowdenbeath have Craig Winter back after

suspension for their visit to Cove Rangers.

Queen of the South's Steve Ramsay and Steve Mallon are suspended and

so miss the visit of Clyde who add Martin Clark and Keith Knox to their

squad.

Forfar should be unchanged at home to Meadowbank who add Ian Little

and Mark Thomson. A shock would seem most likely at Rosewell,

Midlothian, the home of cup giant killers Whitehill Welfare.

Their visitors are Montrose, who are off form at present and also will

have to do without the suspended Mark Garden and Derek Grant.

* RAPID Bucharest have joined Napoli in asking UEFA to check a claim

that Eintracht Frankfurt have broken the ''three foreigner'' rule.

The Romanians were beaten 6-2 on aggragate in the second round of the

UEFA Cup by the Germans, who went on to beat Napoli 2-0 on aggregate in

the next round.

But Napoli have protested that Eintracht fielded more than the

permitted three foreigners, claiming that Slobodan Komljenovic had lost

his assimilated status by playing for Yugoslavia.

And now Rapid have joined in the row regarding Komljenovic.