Kevin McDonald is hoping he and his Beith team-mates can break their away-day duck when they head through to Newlandsfield to face Pollok tomorrow afternoon.

The Ayrshiremen’s failure to win on their Super Premier Division travels is in stark contrast to the impregnable form shown in their own Bellsdale Park backyard.

The stats show full points have been earned from four starts, including last weekend’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Irvine Meadow.

But vastly experienced defender McDonald knows a better return than the single point picked up on the road from a 0-0 stalemate against Shettleston on what was their last trip through to Glasgow is a necessity if the Mighty are to improve upon their current second top of the table position.

He said: "No team can expect to be title challengers if they only win their home games and I can think of no better time to break our duck than against Pollok.

“They are sitting fourth top and can move above us by coming out on top, but we won’t be lacking for motivation ourselves in looking to build upon some decent results and performances of late that have shifted us up the standings.

“It’s encouraging to know we are playing well going into the game because Pollok are always a tough nut to crack in front of their own supporters and I fancy the stakes on offer could make for a footballing spectacle.”

McDonald and central defensive partner John Sheridan won’t like it said but hard not to conclude there is every promise of a Southside goals feast for spectators given the plethora of free-scoring attack- minded players lining up in opposition.

The home side boast ex-Senior brothers Robbie and David Winters, Alan McKenzie and up and coming prospect Derek Hepburn while the visiting ranks can muster up Andy Reid, Darren Christie and the speedy scourge of countless Lok backlines down through the years - Kenny McLean.

Kev said: "I’ve never previously came up against any of the Winters brothers but obviously you have to respect their pedigree and not least because they have been regular Pollok goalscorers this season.

“But we have big Andy Reid playing as well as I have ever seen him while Darren's close control and skills have posed problems for every Super Premier backline as indeed have the forward runs of Paul Frize.

“And of course there’s Kenny who seems to delight in doing well in games against his local team so hopefully he’s kept another special performance in his locker for tomorrow.”

One-time Pollok fans favourite Zander Ryan looks set to bolster the right side of Beith’s defence however injury blows ruling out both Nikky Docherty and Ross Fisher could result in the former Petershill midfielder Richie Burke being asked to deputise as a makeshift left-back.

Team boss Johnny Millar said: "Richie’s experience has allowed him to fill in at the back in our last two outings and do well so there is no gamble in him playing there.

“Tony McInally watched our game against Medda and knows how we set ourselves up.

"However, Frize never featured and maybe his return to our midfield might give Pollok something to think about.”

Lok gaffer Macca freely admitted to his spying mission in saying: "We had a free Saturday and felt the players deserved their first break since we kicked off pre-season training on the July 4.

“The opportunity to run the rule on Beith was too good to miss and it was a most worthwhile trip seeing as they had so many players at the top of their game .

“Their forward players, Christie, McLean and Reid caught the eye but so too did the former Clydebank battler Tommy Martin in midfield and they ran out worthy winners on the day.

“We also must respect the fact Johnny is one of the few managers currently in the game who knows what is needed to put together a team capable of winning the Super Premier title and you can bet on him coming here looking for his team to do a number on us.”

Back-up goalkeeper Ryan Ward is a definite Lok non-starter because of an ankle ligament injury sustained in a training ground incident, which leaves McInally with the sole selection poser of whether to recall fit again full back Mark Sideserf.

He said: "Sidey trained along with the guys this week without any reaction but throwing him straight back into a game of this importance might be the wrong thing to do.”