Scottish Cup finalists Auchinleck Talbot and Glenafton might have anticipated an easier “play their way back in “fixture on returning to Super Premier Division duties tonight.

But the powers-that-be have ordained the title challenging rivals should go head-to-head at Beechwood Park.

Which guarantees that the high, perhaps harsh, standards at which the Ayrshire duo are judged by their fervent supporting throngs will ensure no-quarter is given and none asked of the Junior football titans.

Neither side will lack for motivation as Talbot coming out on top would enable the reigning champions to crucially move within a point of league leaders Rob Roy, and with a game in hand to boot.

However, a climb to second top spot is also in the sights of the visiting Glens if they can “do the league double" over their neighbourly foes following a 3-1 Loch Park victory back in September.

“To be the best you have to beat the best and winning tonight would be a definitive step in the right direction for my players…but no more than that,” said Glens boss Craig McEwan.

“Both teams will have six more league matches to play after tonight so the result will not decide anything in regards to the title and longer term it will have no bearing whatsoever on our meeting in the cup final.

“But it is a game of huge importance and I quite honestly couldn’t have wished for a better fixture on the back of the euphoria surrounding our defeat of Bonnyrigg Rose because the players know they need to be hitting those same heights again …or else.”

McEwan had his full squad in for a light Monday night training session which also doubled as the opportunity for his playing charges to get treatment for the bumps and bruises picked up through at New Dundas Park.

He said: "Chris Dallas missed out last Saturday but might make the Talbot game at a push but we can afford to give him extra recovery time now that Michael McCann is back fit and ready for the fray."

Among other games taking place tonight are a cut-throat round of Super First Division contests affecting the promotion and relegation issues with top billing reserved for basement battlers Maryhill seeking to continue their remarkable recent revival (four wins in their last five league games) when hosting the visit of second top of the table Rutherglen Glencairn, themselves desperate for points in their quest to overhaul one point better off league leaders Kilsyth Rangers.

Keith Hogg’s table-toppers are similarly on the road to face a Yoker Athletic side still needing to put points on the board to ensure their own safety from the drop while yet another intriguing showdown has fourth from bottom Cumbernauld United going up against third top of the standings Shettleston at Guys Meadow.

Petershill have dropped off the pace after picking up just two points from a possible nine however Willie Patterson’s men will be going all out to put themselves back into the step-up picture with a win at home to Shotts Bon Accord.

In the Central First Division title stakes, Larkhall Thistle can make a timely move atop the pile by making home advantage tell against Thorniewood United while third top St Roch's will look to atone for dropping two points in Monday night’s 0-0 draw against Lesmahagow with a return to winning ways when Neilston come through to the James McGrory Stadium.

Meanwhile, one hears that famous old Junior outfit Kilsyth Rangers are planning to stage an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the last of their two Scottish Junior Cup triumphs when overcoming Rutherglen Glencairn 3-1 in a replayed Hampden Park final that followed on from a 1-1 first game draw played out in front of a reported 11,500 crowd.

Long in the tooth supporters will recall Pat McMahon, who went on to play for Celtic, Aston Villa and Chelsea netting one of the goals while soon to be famed Airdrie winger Billy Wilson weighed in with a scoring brace yet arguably the star turn of that renowned Kilsyth team was none other than teenage striking prospect Drew Jarvie, later to become an Airdrie and Aberdeen legend, and he missed out on both showpiece occasions as a result of tearing ankle ligaments in a quarter-final clash with Greenock.

It’s not surprising to learn that a few contact numbers have been lost or mislaid down through the years so club officials are asking for any players who played in the cup final or indeed were involved with Kilsyth Rangers around that time to get in touch by telephoning on 07946261384 or alternatively 07712966385.

TONIGHT'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 6.45pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Blantyre Vics v Renfrew, Cumbernauld Utd v Shettleston, Maryhill v Rutherglen Glencairn, Petershill v Shotts Bon Accord, Yoker Athletic v Kilsyth Rangers.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd, Forth Wanderers v Lesmahagow, St Roch's v Neilston.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers, East Kilbride Thistle v St Anthony's.

Ayrshire Cup second round: Kilwinning Rangers v Darvel.