IT WOULD be perfectly understandable if Rob Roy veteran Paul Finnigan is thinking to himself "what a difference a year makes".

This time back in 2014, Finny was taking his leave of Shotts Bon Accord after playing his part to overcome Rob Roy 6-2 on aggregate in the Super Premier Division play-off decider.

Fast forward 12 months and he is steeling himself to help the Kirkintilloch outfit come out on top in the crunch end-of-season double-header ... and there is every likelihood of him lining up against Shotts.

Losing 2-1 to Yoker last Monday night consigned the Rabs to third-top spot in the Super First Division and set the stage for them facing whoever finishes third bottom of the Super Premier pile.

That place is currently occupied by Shotts, who are left needing to pick up a point from Saturday's league match away to Hurlford United in order to consign basement rivals Arthurlie to a play-off fate.

Defensive stalwart Finny, who was persuaded to join Rob Roy last summer, makes no bones about wanting to avoid going up against his former team-mates.

He said: "I still keep in touch with the guys at Hannah Park and text messages have been flitting between us for some time discussing a Shotts v Rabs outcome, but I didn't get too involved because I believed we would win automatic promotion.

"And the truth is we could and should have been up already, but for going off the rails at the wrong time and dropping so many silly points culminating in this week's defeat by Yoker that left Shettleston home and dry along with Pollok.

"There's nobody but ourselves to blame and all we can do now is to regroup as a dressing room and focus on getting back to our best form in next week's play-off games [Tuesday and Thursday].

"I would take no pleasure in putting Shotts down, so my personal preference is to play Arthurlie, especially after running them very close in two Scottish Cup contests this season only to lose out on penalty kicks.

"No doubt they will be strong favourites to turn us over, but Rob Roy were fancied to beat Shotts last season."

Rob Roy's final Super First Division encounter on Saturday sees them hosting Rutherglen Glencairn in a match that has been rendered meaningless for Finny and his team-mates.

He added: "It would be nice to put as many points on the board as possible, but what's more important is the play-off games, and I fancy Paul Ronald - team boss Stewart Maxwell is away in Thailand playing for Scotland in the Seniors World Cup - will be looking to keep players fresh and rested."

Shotts gaffer Tam McDonald remains optimistic that his side can haul themselves to safety when facing Hurlford.

He said: "We've been getting by with only 13 players most weeks and the guys deserve every credit going for taking things to our very last game, and I don't doubt for a minute that we will give Hurlford a game of it.

"Just tell Finny that I hope to be on the terracing supporting him on Tuesday night."