ATHLETIC are treating the SPFL Trust Trophy "very seriously" and won't be taking Saturday's opponents Kelty Hearts lightly.

That's the message from Chris Hamilton, who has outlined the importance of the fourth round derby clash at KDM Group East End Park.

The near neighbours will meet in a competitive fixture for just the fifth time, having played against one another in League One in the 2022/23 campaign, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Dunfermline have never won the tournament, and have only ever reached the final once, in 2007, when they were beaten by St Johnstone.

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Kelty, who reached the last eight of the competition in the 2022/23 season, drew twice with the Pars in four league meetings, losing the other two matches 2-1, and currently sit top of this term's League One table, following their stunning 5-1 win at Queen of the South on Saturday.

Hamilton, speaking after his team's weekend Championship draw at Airdrieonians, said: "It's a big game for us and we want to take that competition very seriously.

"It's a game that we really want to win.

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"Like I said before, we've not won a lot of games this season, so we want to go into every game wanting to win, and putting on our best performances, and keep these positive feelings going for as long as we can.

"We can only do that by performing and winning games.

"Obviously they've started the season very, very well, and I know a lot of the players that are there. They are a good team and we've seen in the League Cup at the start of the season that teams maybe a few leagues below, or a league below, are not to be taken lightly.

"There are very good players at that level and, when they turn it on, they can be as good as any Championship player.

"It will be a tough one, but one we're looking forward to."

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Following their draw with the Diamonds, which saw Chris Kane's penalty opener for the Pars cancelled out Mason Hancock's second half header, boss, James McPake, said: "The pleasing thing is they're sitting in there and they're gutted.

"It's like we've lost another game, but that shows you where their mindset's at. They are feeling the same way as me going into every game, that we’re going in to that to get three points.

"Sometimes, when you're on a run of not winning a lot of football matches, that goes away and you would maybe have seen them coming in there and breathing a sigh of relief that we maybe got a point.

"That certainly wasn't the case, so, that gives me optimism and we've got another week to work on them, then a cup competition that, again, I'll reiterate, we're taking seriously."