JOHN POTTER hopes the experience he and some of his Kelty Hearts stars have of lifting the trophy can inspire their SPFL Trust Trophy ambitions.

Another piece of New Central Park history was made last Saturday when the club secured a place in the competition's quarter-finals for the first time, thanks to a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Linfield, after a 1-1 draw.

The last eight ties were picked out on Tuesday afternoon, pitting Kelty against today's opponents, Queen of the South, and Potter, who won the tournament with St Mirren in 2005, has his sights on repeating the experience in the dugout.

His number two, Dougie Hill, alongside players Joe Cardle and Jason Thomson, won the cup with Raith Rovers in 2014, while goalkeeper Darren Jamieson was part of Livingston's successful side a year later and, when asked if such experiences had been passed on to other members of the Kelty squad, Potter said: "We did early on in the tournament, just about how great a day a final is, and a semi-final.

"I think Dougie, Jason, Joe have all been there or thereabouts and winning it, and it is a great occasion.

"It's massive for clubs outside the top league.

"It's a big cup; it's a chance to win it. I won it myself as a player, and some of the boys in there have won it, but it's another chance.

"There's a lot of good teams left, it's through to the next round, and hopefully we can go and do well."

Nathan Austin proved to be the hero for Kelty, as his spot-kick in the shoot-out proved decisive, and Potter revealed that they were taking their time in building up his fitness.

The 28-year-old has come off the bench in each of the team's last three outings, having been out since early October, and has only started seven games in an injury-hit campaign.

"He's came off the bench the last three games, and it's slowly building up time for him," continued Potter, who will assess the fitness of Tam O'Ware and Reis Peggie, who both came off on Saturday, before this weekend's trip to Queen of the South.

"This week was the first week he's actually trained all week – well, Tuesday Thursday – and got the full sessions in. That's important.

"We just have to take care with him that we've got him for the long-term."

Victory on their first-ever visit to Palmerston would move Kelty level on points in the League One table with their opponents, who were beaten in their previous meeting at New Central Park, and Potter added: "They're the team directly above us so it's a chance for us to go and try and catch them up, which is what we'll try and do.

"It'll be a difficult game. They're a good team, they did well here and they're on a good bit of form."