KILBIRNIE Ladeside are steeling themselves to go up against East Region cracks Tayport in their ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup tie today without “the best midfielder in Junior Football.”

That’s the tag bestowed on clever playmaking type Davie Anderson by none other than Blasties boss Stevie Swift who believes the former Queen's Park ace will be forced to sit out his side’s last-32 clash on account of a hamstring strain suffered in last weekend’s 2-1 Super Premier Division victory over Shettleston.

Anderson prevented any serious aggravation of his injury by limping off less than half an hour into the Greenfield Park encounter, however the chances of him being passed fit for the Junior Cup fray are “slim at best” according to Swifty.

He revealed: “Davie felt a tightness and did the right thing in coming off but it’s hardly grounds for optimism to think he’s not been able to train alongside the other players this week.

“Instead he’s been on the treatment table non-stop and I fancy the Tayport head-to-head is probably coming 4/5 days too soon for him.

“The importance of the game means we want to put out our best starting XI but it would be a major mistake to gamble on Davie’s fitness and risk losing him long term as he’s certainly emerged as the heartbeat of the team this season and one of the principal reason for us enjoying such a decent winning run of late.

“Doing well in the Scottish Cup is one of our aims but I don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket and lose sight of the fact our results have pushed us into a strong title challenging position.”

Latest signing Caolan McAleer, ex-Airdrie, Partick Thistle and Arthurlie debuted as Anderson’s replacement against Shettleston and the Ayrshire club gaffer reckons the 23-year-old winger could have a part to play against the Tayside big guns.

Swifty added: “Caolan felt his way into the game and improved as the game wore on and I’ve no doubts his energy, pace and direct running are handy weapons to have in our armoury.

“And we’ll need every help we can get because the report back from watching Tayport last Saturday indicates they have a balance about them and are nobody’s pushovers despite going down 3-0 to a very strong Bo’ness United side.

“They have a terrific Scottish Cup pedigree as I know to my cost only too well after losing out 1-0 against them to an extra-time Brian Craik goal in the 2002 Final back when I played for Linlithgow Rose.

“I still have it in my mind to pay Tayport back for that disappointment and nothing would please me more than to finally get even tomorrow afternoon.”

Yet another absentee from the Kilbirnie squad preparing for the fourth round confrontation is experienced goalkeeper Chris Fahey whose opting to join Cumbernauld Colts in a coaching capacity this midweek compelled Swifty to snap up former goalkeeper Robbie Kelly to act as back-up to highly-rated regular No.1 Keiran Hughes.

Kilwinning Rangers newcomer Martyn Campbell looks a racing certainty to play his first home game when the Buffs host the visit of Arniston Rangers to Abbey Park while a debut appearance could be on the cards for Arthurlie’s latest acquisition, Gary Wild, ex-Pollok, for the Barrhead outfit’s testing encounter against Wishaw.

Lie gaffer Robert Downs said: “Wishaw are flying right now and are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 competitive outings so my players need to willing to put in the effort to have any chance of getting through to the last 16 standing.

“That in itself is a huge motivating factor but you can bet Chris McGroarty will be preaching more or less the same message inside his dressing room.

“He is a good manager who has worked wonders to put together a side on a shoestring that gets the ball down and plays a style of football that sits very well with the players he has signed.

“They may be a couple of Divisions down the pecking order but I’ve warned our guys to treat them as we would the Polloks and Auchinleck Talbots of the game … or else we’ll suffer the consequences.”

The Central Second Division meeting of Gartcairn and Newmains United became the first victim of the frost-bound conditions when postponed yesterday afternoon, however numerous other games are set to follow suit so Junior supporters would be well advised to contact their clubs on the outcomes of pitch inspections before setting out in search of playing action.

On the comings and goings front, ambitious Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey has followed up his brokering a deal to land experienced Petershill defender Kenny Hadden by fixing up striker Mark Duffy, on the open to transfer list at Bellshill Athletic since mid-December.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 1.45pm)

ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup fourth round: Arthurlie v Wishaw, Hill of Beath v Petershill, Linlithgow Rose v Irvine Meadow, Oakley Utd v Carnoustie Panmure, Rossvale v Stonehaven, Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, Hurlford Utd v Dalkeith Thistle, Kelty Hearts v Renfrew, Bonnyrigg Rose v Lochee Utd, Kilwinning Rangers v Arniston Rangers, Scone Thistle v Beith, Camelon v Dundee North End, Kennoway Star Hearts v Pollok, Darvel v Troon, Glenrothes v Hermes, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Tayport.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Rob Roy v Glenafton.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Bellshill Athletic v Kilsyth Rangers, Winton Rovers v Cumbernauld Utd, Largs Thistle v Maybole, Yoker v Blantyre Vics, Rutherglen Glencairn v Clydebank, Greenock v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division: St Anthony's v Neilston, Vale of Clyde v Lesmahagow, Maryhill v Johnstone Burgh, St Roch's v Dunipace, Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Gartcairn v Newmains Utd, Vale of Leven v Lanark Utd, Forth v Cambuslang Rangers, East Kilbride Thistle v Benburb, Port Glasgow v Royal Albert, Glasgow Perthshire v Ashfield.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Muirkirk, Craigmark v Ardeer Thistle, Annbank Utd v Girvan, Saltcoats Vics v Whitletts Vics, Irvine Vics v Kello Rovers.