CAN they do it again? That's the question being posed to Chris Strain and his Kilwinning Rangers players.

Can they string together a run of seven league wins as they did earlier this season when climbing to pole position in the Super Premier Division standings?

With just eight games remaining, doing so would almost certainly result in the Buffs being crowned champions.

That outcome would go down as a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the Ayrshire club seeing as their top-flight status was only retained on the back of a Play-Off triumph over Kilsyth Rangers at the end of last season.

Supporters will recall back-to-back defeats by Pollok and Beith as the only blemishes in a league campaign that has yielded an impressive 32 points to date, so it perhaps adds a layer of intrigue that the same clubs are Kilwinning’s next two opponents – starting with near neighbours Beith visiting Abbey Park this weekend.

And nine points now separate the sides after Strain’s men eked out a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to reigning champions Glenafton on Saturday which helped extend their unbeaten league record to 10 games.

The Buffs boss said: "The players were disappointed not to come away with a victory but part of me thinks we will look back on this as a point gained come the final totting up.

“A gale-force and bitterly cold wind blowing down the pitch didn’t allow it to be a day for getting the ball down to play football but the one bit of quality we did manage in the first half saw a Carlo Monti provide a superb delivery that Bryan Botlan belted home to give us a 1-0 lead.

"Tommy Maitland was missing from our backline through family issues but we still looked comfortable defensively. However, our sitting too deep in the second half allowed Glenafton to play out from the back and grab an equaliser through the lad Chris Dallas.

“Goal attempts proved to be few and far between for the rest of the game so all things considered, a share of the spoils was probably fair on both teams.”

Rival title contenders Auchinleck Talbot and a Pollok side freshly up into third top spot, after Adam Forde’s third goal in two matches earned a 1-0 victory over Arthurlie, are both in league action this weekend with Talbot taking to the road to face Clydebank while Tony McInally’s troops await the visit of Cumnock.

Strain said: "Allowing ourselves to be keeping fingers crossed for results to go our way elsewhere would be a major mistake on our part and it’s imperative that we concentrate on our own game and nothing else.

“Beith are clearly one of the main title contenders and have only dropped back to fourth place in the table because of playing fewer games than Pollok and you would have to expect they will be coming through to Abbey Park with their pride hurting after taking a surprise tumble out of the Scottish Junior Cup against Lochee United

“Put me in Johnny Millar ‘s shoes and I would look upon a head to head with the league leaders as the ideal game in which to get their season back on track so you can bet he will be demanding a big reaction from his players .

“For sure they will be extra motivated but I’ll be similarly looking for my players to show a bit of fire in their bellies with the title race just about to enter the home straight so take it as read that we’ll be having a real go at picking up all three points on Saturday.

“Nothing less will do not least because we have been in the box seats for so long and I really don’t want us to be ousted from them at this stage of the season.”

Meanwhile, on the Junior transfer front comes word of one in and one out at Irvine Meadow whose swooping to procure Petershill’s surplus to requirements left back Div McKay last midweek has been followed by the Ayrshire club snapping up Giffnock North striker prospect Peter Gemmell hard on the heels of announcing a willingness to listen to offers for experienced front man James Marks who only moved to Meadow Park from Hurlford United in mid-September .

PLAYING SATURDAY 24th MARCH 2018: (Kick Offs 2PM unless stated): Scottish Junior Cup Quarter Final.(2.30PM) Wishaw v Rob Roy Quarter Final Replay (2.30PM) Hurlford Utd. v Bo’ness Utd. McBookie.com Super Premier Division.Girvan v Glenafton , Clydebankv Auchinleck Talbot, Kilwinning Rangers v Beith , Arthurlie v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Pollok v Cumnock. McBookie.com Super First Division. Shettleston v Petershill, Largs Thistle v Kilsyth Rangers, , Larkhall Thistle v Darvel, Irvine Meadow v Cambuslang Rangers , Cumbernauld Utd v Troon, Kello Rovers v Renfrew, Rutherglen Glencairn v Maryhill .McBookie.com Central First Division. Blantyre Vics v Port Glasgow, St Rochs v Forth Wanderers , Thorniewood Utd, v Yoker Athletic, Neilston v East Kilbride Thistle, Lesmahagow v Glasgow Perthshire , Thorniewood Utd , Greenock v Rossvale , Benburb v Shotts Bon Accord,.McBookie.com Central Second Division. Ashfield v Gartcairn, Lanark Utd v St Anthonys, Vale of Clyde v Royal Albert, Bellshill Athletic v Vale of Leven, Johnstone Burgh v Carluke Rovers, Newmains Utd v Dunipace. McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Ardeer Thistle v Lugar Boswell, v Ardrossan Winton Rovers,Maybole v Craigmark, ,Saltcoats Vics v Irvine Vics , Whitletts Vics, v Muirkirk .