STUART Kettlewell has already been through the divisions once.

From Queen's Park to Clyde, then on again to Ross County, the 30-year-old midfielder made it all the way from the old third division to the SPFL top six, even stopping off at his old Hampden stomping ground as part of County's Scottish Cup final squad in 2010.

It was quite a journey but now he is embarking on a new adventure with Brora Rangers and Saturday sees the back-to-back Highland League champions visit Meadowbank Stadium, the home of Lowland League champions Edinburgh City, in the first leg of the new SPFL play-offs.

But that is only part of the story. Nothing in Scottish football is ever straightforward and the bizarre subtext to this one has been Brora's uncertainty over whether they would welcome, or even accept, a place in the senior leagues which would await them if they can battle their way past Edinburgh City, then SPFL basement-dwellers Montrose.

While statements from club chairman John Young have been at best ambiguous on the subject, Kettlewell, a man who has spent the last 18 months battling hip problems, is adamant there will be no such ambivalence from the club's players when they run on to the pitch on Saturday.

Having managed his troublesome joint through 27 appearances in Scotland's top league for the Dingwall side last season, even surgery this summer wasn't entirely able to cure it. He signed a three-year deal at Brora, in tandem with a role coaching County's Under -20 side, but some lingering hip complaints have limited his role this season. In all likelihood, it is a problem which needs up to eight weeks' rest to fully rectify, but if he can help his side get over the line and make history, he will gladly make himself available for battle one more time.

"The first thing to understand is that there are guys here who can definitely do a job at a higher level," Kettlewell said. "Grant Munro, who I played with at Ross County for a couple of years, is a tremendous professional and someone who in my opinion could definitely still do a job.

"People seem to think that boys are getting paid all sorts, and money-grabbing, but I can categorically say that isn't the case. It is more about boys looking to the future, getting a good job, and finding a football club that fits hand in hand with that.

"Ross Tokely has been working out in Angola, so I am not sure if he will be able to play next season.

"Then there are guys getting a chance at the other end of the age spectrum. Guys like Andrew Greig, Gavin Morrison and Joe Malin. Maybe they didn't get a chance with Ross County or Inverness but are obviously now taking their chances with Brora.

"In terms of going into the games with Edinburgh City there certainly won't be anyone not trying, or trying to throw a game. Far from it. There is no way you could question the guys in that dressing-room. It is not in their nature. We will be preparing for Edinburgh City and trying to win it."

But could Brora simply decline their place? And what do the club's fans think about it all?

"I think it is definitely the plan [that the club would accept a place if they won the play-offs]," said Kettle- well. "This was all voted on two years ago but what has happened with Brora is, not that it has spiralled out of control, but that they have hit greater heights than everybody thought they would at the time.

"We are maybe punching above our weight and I think ideally the chairman would have liked to have built the infrastructure of the club a little bit more. It is sensible what he is saying. Gretna are maybe the prime example of clubs growing too far too soon, and throwing money at things. I think that is the only point which is being made.

"I have not really interacted with too many fans or asked too many of them about it. But they have been travelling in good numbers. I know Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup was a one-off occasion but I can only speak from what I have seen and they have certainly been committed. There is a core of them who seem to be loyal and sticking by the club. I don't think that would change whether it is Highland League or the SPFL."

That Scottish Cup run to which Kettlewell refers makes an interesting test case. While Brora went down 4-1 to the Championship promotion hopefuls at Palmerston, just to get there they had to go to Meadowbank and win. They prevailed 3-2 against Edinburgh City in November, although the future Lowland League champions spent the last half-hour with 10 men following the dismissal of Ross Allum. Former Cowdenbeath centre-half Joe Mbu is the star turn for Gary Jardine's side.

"I wouldn't say we are favourites but we have played them once and managed to get a good win at their place," said Kettlewell, who has been unlucky enough to be an unused sub in both County's Scottish Cup final defeat against Dundee United and the 2-0 semi-final win against Celtic which preceded it.

"They have obviously got some good players so we will be under no illusions that it will be a tough game. The way I've been of late I have been sitting on the bench. If they needed me I would have played, but under the physio's advice I have been trying to give myself six to eight weeks to make myself right again. Certainly if called upon I would play and do everything I can."