TODAY'S eagerly-awaited New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Final promises to be a case of many happy returns for one of two players lining up on either side of the Arthurlie v Kilwinning Rangers divide.

Lining up between the sticks for the Barrhead men is goalkeeper Kris Robertson, back on the familiar Newlandsfield pastures where he helped win six trophies during a rewarding four-year Pollok playing stint under Rab Sneddon.

And in the Ayrshire camp with far more recent memories of the Southside club is veteran stopper Chris McGowan who only moved away last summer after being considered surplus to new Lok gaffer Tony McInally's requirements.

A romance of the cup storyline undoubtedly beckons for 32-year-old Robertson, who only recently came out of work-enforced retirement to help out former Lok team-mate and current Arthurlie manager Robert Downs after his regular No.1 Mikey White was hit by a three-game ban for a violent conduct offence in the quarter-final victory over Cumbernauld United.

The shotstopper nicknamed Belter said: "Robert stays in close proximity to me and we talk whenever we meet up in the street about the Junior football scene so he had forewarned me that he might call on my services if Mikey copped a ban.

"And I had no hesitation of helping him out, or indeed my first Junior club Arthurlie, even though I'm clearly a bit rusty after hanging up the boots at Kilbirnie Ladeside fully 12 months ago.

"That much was painfully evident when I played in last weekend's semi-final victory against Irvine Meadow and my kicking off the ground was dodgy to say the least and contributed in no small part to Medda's first goal.

"Funny thing was I had not felt the slightest bit nervous beforehand, but once out on the pitch I turned very edgy in the opening 20 minutes, but thankfully I settled down and made a few saves to justify Downsy's faith in me.

"No doubt stepping out in front of what is sure to be a massive crowd today will have the juices flowing again but I'll be better prepared and it also helps that I've a further week's training under my belt to get to know the Arthurlie players.

"It's a good dressing room with one or two familiar faces in one-time Pollok midfielder Ryan McGregor and of course Arthurlie's very own old stager Mark Blakey whose belief he once scored against me is possibly down to one of the head knocks picked up in his career."

Belter owns up to never won the New Coin Holdings Cup despite no fewer than four Final appearances, the first of which was as the Arthurlie keeper in their 4-3 reverse against rank outsiders Troon in 2005.

He insisted: "The West was never a competition where I enjoyed the best of luck so it would be a dream come true and more than a touch ironic if that all changed today.

"I may be a stop-gap signing, but I'll be celebrating every bit as much as everyone else if the day goes Arthurlie's way."

Grizzled defender McGowan, one of the Kilwinning defensive mainstays this season, says he is looking forward to his Newlandsfield return particularly on such a prestigious cup final occasion.

He admitted: " I have more good memories than bad of the place despite things not going as well as they might on the playing front under the man who signed me, John Richardson.

"And not being part of Tony McInally's plans is just one of those things that happen in football, but I have few complaints considering how well Kilwinning Rangers have fared this season.

"Winning promotion was superb and getting to this final is a terrific achievement for such a young side and more so for an old head like myself who thought games of this magnitude were a thing of the past.

"I've won the New Coin Holdings Cup three times with Irvine Meadow against Kilbirnie Ladeside, Rob Roy and Ashfield, but we were strong favourites on each of those occasions so it would be something special to do it as an underdog."

Chris managed to score in the win over Kilbirnie and cannot be ruled out of another final score given he has 10 goals to his name already this season.

He added: "It would be pleasing to notch, but I would derive even greater satisfaction if Kilwinning could post a clean sheet because after all defence is my prime job.

"It's not beyond us even against a team of Arthurlie's attacking quality because our two full-backs Tommy Maitland and Barry Fleeting in tandem with Isaac Kerr, a fabulous prospect who plays alongside me in central defence, are capable of keeping things tight while behind us Fraser Stewart has great hands.

"Our front players have attracted rave notices for their play this season ... and rightly so ...but winning finals is a team game and everyone has to contribute."

Today's game is played to a finish with a penalty-kick shoot-out taking place if matters are all square after 90 minutes.

In other games today, Blantyre Vics will no doubt have the champagne on ice for their testing league encounter away to Wishaw where victory will see Terry Hewitt & Co crowned Central First Division champions.

The other end of the table sees relegation-threatened Benburb looking for a three-point haul against Dunipace while at the same time hoping for a Vics triumph..

Results going that way would see Frank Lovering's men move out of the drop zone above basement rivals Wishaw and leave both clubs with everything to play for in their final league matches this coming week.

Elsewhere, supporters of newly-promoted St Roch's are sure to have a keen interest in the Provanmill club's AGM taking place inside the James McGrory Stadium pavilion on Monday, June 8, at 7pm.

Season tickets for their campaign in the Central First Division (£30/£15 for unwaged/selective free tickets will be available on the night (contact president Jim Friel on 01417712401).