Airdrie travel to face Dundee in this weekend’s Scottish Cup third round tie, and Callum Fordyce wants to send the Diamonds faithful home with smiles on their faces.

Club captain and assistant manager Fordyce believes that Airdrie are going into the match in good form and high in confidence after going four matches unbeaten - three of them wins.

“It’s a case of keeping momentum going, that’s how we’re trying to look at it.

“Obviously you’ve got a break from the league, but we’re on a good run of games and hopefully we do ourselves proud and do as much as we can to get through.”

Scottish Cup third round day is always a special one in the fixture list, and Fordyce has some good memories of cup runs in the past.

The 30-year-old can even count a victory over Dundee among his successes.

“My best run was at Queen of the South, we got to the last 16 or the last eight. Funnily enough we actually beat Dundee in a replay.

“It’s financially great for the club when you can progress through the cup, so it’s exciting - the Scottish Cup always brings a bit of freshness as well, and it takes your mind away from the league and you can go and have a right good go.”

That’s what the Diamonds will be hoping to do when they travel to Kilmac Stadium Dens Park on Saturday, where they meet the side currently sitting third in the Championship.

Airdrie and Dundee last met in March 2010, with the Diamonds 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Scott McLaughlin, Diarmuid O’Carroll and Scott Gemmill. There have been huge changes at both clubs in the intervening 12 years, and Fordyce says the Dundee of today are a different prospect.

“They’ve got top quality players, some that have played at a higher level and could still play at a higher level.

“I’ve played with some of their players, and some of them are capable of causing a lot of problems. We’ve got to go and show them the respect that they’re due, but they’ll be having to focus on us as well.

“We know what we’re capable of, so it’s a tie that we’re all looking forward to.”

And with a break from the pressure of league football, Callum says he and his team-mates can relax and relish the occasion knowing that a vocal Diamonds support will be right behind them.

“It’s about us going and enjoying it. It’s a young squad, and if they can go and enjoy it that goes a long way. There’s no pressure on the young players, everything’s about going and expressing yourself, being disciplined and enjoying playing football.

“You look at the support we had at Partick last year, and at Tynecastle - they turn out in their numbers.

“You love an away tie, the buzz of the day - it’ll be a great spectacle for the fans and hopefully we can get a result that keeps them happy.”

Player-manager Rhys McCabe added: “The chance to go and play a club who are in a higher division, and the chance for us to go and step up against so-called better opposition, is good for us as players.

“I know the qualities of the individuals that they have and it’ll be a tough test for us, but we’ve got to make sure that we prepare properly, and first and foremost we go out with a gameplan that we can go and get the win rather than just going there and being stuffy and trying to be hard to beat - we want to go and implement our style.”

Goalkeeper Josh Rae and midfielder Adam Frizzell are back in training following lengthy lay-offs, but the game will come too soon for the pair. Striker Gabby McGill is more likely to be involved having stepped up his training following an injury.

Referee Lloyd Wilson has already overseen two convincing Airdrie victories this season - the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup win over Cowdenbeath in July, and August’s 4-0 home win against Falkirk.

Airdrie supporters travelling to Kilmac Stadium Dens Park should enter the Shankly Stand via gates 33, 34 and 35. Gate 33 will be a cash gate on the day.

Please note that kiosks at Dens Park will not be operating card facilities - sales of refreshments will be strictly cash only.