AMONG those clubs steeling themselves for a first taste of competitive action tomorrow night are East Kilbride Thistle whose team boss Billy Campbell is anything but unhappy with his side’s delayed start to their Exsel Group Sectional League Cup campaign.

The fixture list awarding the Jags a midweek opener at home to Blantyre Vics has been a welcome stroke of luck for the amiable Campbell after he revealed a handful of injured players, considered doubtful at best for a game last Saturday, are now in line for a welcome return to playing action.

He said: “Our taking on three tough but exacting pre-season friendly matches against Stranraer Under 20s, Thorniewood United and Tranent was a worthwhile exercise for many of the younger guys at the club.

“But unfortunately Phil McCabe, Aaron Connolly, Barry Devine and Ryan Carnwath picked up knocks which landed them on the treatment table along with our team captain Alan McFadden who has been on the recovery trail from a long-standing Achilles tendon problem.

“We couldn’t run the risk of this injury situation getting any worse so I turned down the chance to play a friendly game in favour of giving the whole squad a free weekend to rest up and it looks to have paid dividends.

“Everyone was in last night for a light training session and all five injured players came through it to put themselves in my thoughts for the Vics game.”

Campbell has added much needed experience to his Jags dressing room in the shape of ex-Beith legend John Craig who was with Largs Thistle last season and the versatile ace’s signing makes for a total of six new faces at the Central Second Division outfit.

The gaffer added: “Chris Faulds (Cambuslang Rangers) and Andy Gibson (Johnstone Burgh) are our other recruits from the Junior ranks because the remaining newcomers have stepped up from the amateurs albeit McCabe (Finnart Amateurs) previously played under me at Somervell Park.

“Stephen Oates and Scott Edgar have arrived from East Kilbride Under 20s and are looking like decent prospects but we also have a couple of trialists in training who are looking the part.

“Our dressing room now has a decent mix of older heads and young legs so we’re all looking forward to getting the season started in earnest against the Vics who are something of an unknown quantity given John Gibson has been landed with a total rebuilding job.

“I could have watched them in action in losing out to Vale of Clyde at the weekend but my preference was to run the rule over Ashfield who are our first up league opponents .

“What we do know about the Vics is that Gibby has brought in several decent players so we are preparing for a tough 90 minutes.”

Also set to make their Exsel Group debuts are Maryhill in hosting the visit of city rivals Ashfield while Shettleston warmed up for facing Bellshill Athletic at Greenfield Park with a 2-1 friendly win over Port Glasgow through a brace of goals from player/manager Peter Weatherson.

Home advantage appears to be with all the other clubs entering the Exsel Cup competition for the first time with the exception of Lanark United who are taking to the road to meet Larkhall Thistle.

Meanwhile, two clubs about to be idle this weekend, Pollok and Cumbernauld United have arranged to meet in a friendly contest at Newlandsfield.

On the comings and goings front comes word of Petershill completing the acquisition of vastly experienced Senior defender Kevin Nicoll while Ardeer Thistle have snapped up Michael Holden from Ardrossan Winton Rovers where striker Graham Boyd remains up for sale.

Also interesting to note that Kilwinning Rangers trialists in their 2-2 weekend draw with Largs Thistle were ex-Stranraer signing Dean Fulton and midfielder Darren McLean previously on the books of Blantyre Vics and Kilbirnie Ladeside.

PLAYING TOMORROW

(Kick-offs 7pm)

Exsel Group Sectional League Cup Section One: Larkhall Thistle v Lanark Utd, Royal Albert v Forth Wanderers. Section Two: Wishaw v Carluke Rovers, Shotts Bon Accord v Newmains Utd.

Section Three: Shettleston v Bellshill Athletic, Thorniewood Utd v Petershill.

Section Four: East Kilbride Thistle v Blantyre Vics, Vale of Clyde v Cambuslang Rangers.

Section Five: Pollok v St Anthony's, Neilston v Benburb.

Section Six: Clydebank v Glasgow Perthshire, Maryhill v Ashfield.

Section Seven: Port Glasgow v Johnstone Burgh, Vale of Leven v Greenock.

Section Eight: Dunipace v Rob Roy, Kilsyth Rangers v Cumbernauld Utd.

Ardagh Glass Cup. Section One: Beith v Dalry Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Largs Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Section Two: Hurlford Utd v Irvine Meadow, Saltcoats Vics v Ardeer Thistle, Irvine Vics v Darvel.

Section Three: Craigmark v Whitletts Vics Annbank Utd v Girvan, Troon v Maybole.

Section Four: Muirkirk v Lugar Boswell, Glenafton v Auchinleck Talbot, Kello Rovers v Cumnock.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

Exsel Group Sectional League Cup Section One: Forth Wanderers v Lanark Utd, Larkhall Thistle v Lesmahagow.

Section Two: Gartcairn v Shotts Bon Accord, Wishaw v Newmains Utd.

Section Three: St Roch's v Thorniewood Utd, Shettleston v Petershill.

Section Four: East Kilbride Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Vale of Clyde.

Section Five: Neilston v Arthurlie, St Anthony's v Benburb.

Section Six: Glasgow Perthshire v Maryhill, Ashfield v Yoker Athletic.

Section Seven: Port Glasgow v Greenock, Renfrew v Vale of Leven.

Section Eight: Rob Roy v Kilsyth Rangers, Rossvale v Dunipace.

Ardagh Glass Cup. Section One: Dalry Thistle v Kilwinning Rangers, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Largs Thistle.

Section Two: Saltcoats Vics v Irvine Vics, Irvine Meadow v Ardeer Thistle, Darvel v Hurlford Utd.

Section Three: Maybole v Craigmark, Girvan v Troon, Whitletts Vics v Annbank Utd.

Section Four: Lugar Boswell v Kello Rovers, Glenafton v Muirkirk.