TONY McINALLY today declared his Pollok side are in great shape ahead of the new season.

The Super First Division champions and Evening Times Champions' Cup winners welcome Newtongrange Star to Glasgow's south side for their first pre-season friendly.

And the game will go ahead after extensive repairs to the Newlandsfield surface after a family of foxes had dug holes on the pitch during the week, leading to the postponement of last Wednesday's scheduled clash against Cumbernauld United.

Following last season's double, expectations are high among the Pollok support that more good times lie ahead, and this will be their first chance to judge on McInally's optimism.

The manager said: “The vast majority of players are looking fitter and sharper than I could ever have hoped at this stage of our pre-season work and hopefully this is a good indication for the challenges that lie in wait.

“The boys retained from last year are flying, and that could be down to the fact we had them coming in for Saturday sessions in the three weeks that elapsed from us playing our final Super First Division game until the Evening Times Champions' Cup games against Auchinleck Talbot and Blantyre Vics.

“But I must also have to applaud how well our new guys are gelling, even though it was only to be expected with the likes of Mark Sideserf, Chris Walker and Colin Williamson. for whom there are no mysteries over our approach and methods given they all previously played under our backroom team at Shotts.

“Sidey and Williamson are looking the part, but so, too, is Ross McCabe, another of our close-season buys who is looking a rock-solid acquisition and with an excellent attitude towards the game as befitting a former professional player.

“He is one of four centre-backs at the club this season along with Walker, Gary Wild and, of course, our skipper Paul Gallagher, whose long-awaited recovery from knee surgery is just about complete. We are planning on him featuring for part of today’s game when our supporters will no doubt make a point of welcoming him back to the fold.

“Making every bit as much of a favourable impression as anyone is young Derek Hepburn, whose skill on the ball and ability to find space has raised more than a few eyebrows among his team-mates, and it’s unfortunate that he is away on holiday and will miss out on the chance to make his home debut.

“I mean no disrespect to his previous clubs when I say his playing with better players is set to bring his game on a ton and, at just 21 years of age, he’s one for the future, so we intend to nurture him and see how he develops.”

Macca’s pride in Pollok’s rejuvenation since he took over is fierce, however he stops short of predicting a silverware reward despite having picked up two trophies in his first full season in charge.

He said: "Winning two trophies was a clear case of us over-achieving during Phase One of our rebuilding plans and the raising of expectations among Pollok fans only makes Phase Two all the more difficult.

“Right now I would gauge progress as having Pollok competing and holding their own against Junior football’s big guns and rattling a few cages like we did last season with wins over Auchinleck, Hurlford and Cumnock.

“We have a group of committed and confident players who are afraid of nothing and this team is definitely not stepping up just to make up the Super Premier numbers.

“Our aim is to see a strong Pollok re-established as one of the Junior game’s elite and, on a personal level, I want us to re-assert ourselves as the best of the old Central-based teams in the top league.

“Achieving this, even without a trophy to hand, will be a major success story in my book.”

Macca, continuing to be credited with an interest in former Airdrie and Auchinleck Talbot striker John Boyle, revealed there could be a new face being on show against Newtongrange.

He added: “Darren McNeil, formerly of Rangers and Hamilton Youths, is a midfielder who featured against Talbot in the Evening Times Cup and he is not looking out of his depth alongside the other guys.

“He will come into our thoughts, as will Paul Harkin, formerly of Queen's Park and the younger brother of Dundee playmaker Gary. He is a very creative left-footed type and has made a good impression since joining in at training some 10 days ago.

“Otherwise, we will be very much along familiar lines, which is the way it should be with the new season just a week away.”

A number West v East friendlies go ahead today, with the pick of them involving Ayrshire clubs as Auchinleck travel to Bo’ness, Hurlford head for Linlithgow, while Irvine Meadow host beaten Scottish Junior Cup finalists Musselburgh.

Meanwhile, Cumbernauld’s plea for an away friendly has resulted in John Queen’s side heading to Saltcoats.

And Junior followers on the lookout for midweek action should note that the first silverware of the 2015/16 season will be decided on Monday after the 26th playing of the Clydesdale Cup final, which sees holders Lesmahagow taking on Lanark.

TODAY

Friendlies: Pollok v Newtongrange, Carluke v Forfar West End, Blantyre Vics v Whitburn, Fauldhouse Utd v Shotts, Wishaw v Port Glasgow, Saltcoats v Cumbernauld, Ardeer v Harmony Row, Greenock v Camelon, Craigmark v Newmains, Pollok v Newtongrange, Clydebank v Girvan, Largs v Petershill, Haddington v Rob Roy, Winton Rovers v Thorniewood, Forest Hall v St Anthony's, Larkhall v Darvel, Spartans XI v Maryhill, Arthurlie v Arniston, Bathgate v Kilsyth, St Roch's v Vale of Leven, Hill O’Beath v Lesmahagow, St Andrews Utd v Shettleston, Bo’ness v Auchinleck, Kilbirnie v Cumnock, Livingston Utd v Forth, Kilwinning v Annbank, Downfield v Bellshill, Kennoway Star v Dunipace, Linlithgow v Hurlford, Irvine Meadow v Musselburgh.

Hugh Blair Tournament (Neilston): Neilston v Dalry, Irvine Vics v Dalry, Neilston v Irvine Vics.

Johnstone Burgh Tournament: Johnstone Burgh v Thorn Utd, Benburb v East Kilbride.

Jim Baird Memorial Tournament (Lugar): Troon v Bonnyton U21s, Lugar v Hurlford Th.

SUNDAY

James McKinstry testimonial: Vale of Clyde v Celtic XI.