More than a little intrigue surrounds tomorrow’s meeting of Rutherglen Glencairn and Blantyre Vics , facing up to each other in what might be construed as a fairly meaningless Euroscot Eng League Cup encounter given that Vale of Clyde have already secured Section Four’s qualification spot .

But one cannot help but think points-scoring will be on the New Southcroft Park agenda given the West Region fixture schedule has pitted both clubs to lock horns again next Saturday in a Super First Division opener .

The only difference is that game goes ahead at Castle Park however top scoring Vics striker Craig Smith reckons tomorrow’s showdown will have no bearing whatsoever on the league clash .

The 29 year old revealed, “ Our manager Davie Greig has not had his problems to seek in being compelled to make as many as 5 or 6 changes in every game played up to now because of injuries, holidays or work commitments and the same situation applies tomorrow when David Green , Ryan Tiffney, Brian McLaughlin , Bert Wright and Ryan McGarry will all be posted missing .

“He’s also used the Euroscot section games to blood new midfield signings Colin Marshall, Andy Gibson and Wrighty as well as to try out new partnerships and permutations so not surprisingly we have a far from a settled look about us .

“Things will undoubtedly settle down before too long but I don’t think our starting line-up or indeed the result tomorrow can be taken as a pointer for next week.

“ David Galt (now at Queens Park) will be a big miss but Stevie Dymock has come in to fill the gap and has a pedigree for scoring so nobody should be dismissing our chances of a fourth consecutive promotion .”

The norm for Junior clubs to feel their way into the new season goes out the window tonight with the playing of the Marymass Festival Cup between larch rivals Irvine Vics and Irvine Meadow.

This always hotly contested Ayrshire clash should attract a decent turnout at Victoria Park and Vics boss Stevie Wilson admits he scannot wait for the whistle to blow and get the derby action underway.

He is well aware his Ayrshire District League side are yet again up against the odds in seeking to topple their more illustrious neighbours however he refuses to rule out the possibility of a Cup upset.

A mix of highs and lows sums up the Vics lot in their Ardagh Glass Cup encounters to date with victories over Saltcoats Vics and Ardeer Thistle intermingled with reverses at the hands of Hurlford United and Darvel but Wilson defiantly insisted earlier ,

“Yes we are rated outright underdogs but that’s only to be expected given the gulf between the clubs however my players were in exactly the same position last year yet it took a late goal by Medda fior them to scrape a 4-4 draw.

“This fixture means so much to our supporters and they will be there in numbers to make for a great atmosphere on the night so I’ll be reminding our guys of the need to give a good account of ourselves - at the very least - and not let the fans down.

“ Relegation last season was a blow but we have retained the vast majority of the squad and freshened things up with a handful of new signings like the former Kilbirnie Ladeside striker Mark McRobert and midfielder Paul Monan who was with Kilwinning Rangers .

“And our pre-season went well so we came into the Ardagh games full of optimism which was in no way diminished after losing out 6-2 to a very powerful and well organised l Hurlford side who are already looking one of the teams to watch this season.

“ We hoped to bounce back last weekend against Darvel but Davie Wilson’s sending off just 25 minutes in for two yellow card offences took the wind out of our sails and contributed in no small part to us taking a 5-1 tanning .

“ The win over Ardeer helped redress the balance to an extent but a result against Medda would really have everyone feeling upbeat ahead of our league season kicking off.”

Also playing for a glittering silverware prize are St Rochs and Shettleston whose head to head at the James McGrory Stadium tomorrow afternoon has been given added spice by local taxi company Network Private Hire - they sponsor both clubs - putting up a trophy to be contested by the East End duo..

Candy Rock gaffer Andy Cameron revealed , “Network also provide backing t to a couple of local amateur teams and this Cup gesture is just typical of them.

“My players are naturally fired up by the prospect of being the first ever winners of the trophy however it’s a huge ask to try and better a Super Premier Division club as we found out when losing 4-0 in our Euroscot League Cup opener against Petershill.

“But it speaks volumes that I wasn’t too displeased with our overall performance and the manner in which we competed in the Peasy game so more of the same from our guys and I fancy Shettleston will know they’ve been in a game..”

PLAYING TONIGHT(Kick Off 6.45PM) : ARDAGH GLASS SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP.Section Two.Irvine Vics v Irvine Meadow.

TOMORROW(Kick Offs 2PM) :

ARDAGH GLASS SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP.Section One LargsThistle v Beith, Kilwinning Rangers v Winton Rovers , Kilbirnie Ladeside v Dalry Thistle.Section Two. Hurlford Utd v Ardeer Thistle,Saltcoats Vics v Darvel.Section Three.Whitletts Vics v Girvan, Craigmark v Troon, Annbank Utd v Maybole.Section Four.Cumnock v Glenafton, Muirkirk v Kello Rovers , Lugar Boswell v Auchinleck Talbot..EUROSCOT ENG SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP. Section One. Forth v Lesmahagow, Royal Albert v Lanark Utd..Section Two. Carluke Rovers v Newmains Utd, Wishaw v Gartcairn.Section Three. Bellshill Athletic v Petershill, Shettleston v St Rochs. Section Four. Rutherglen Glencairn v Blantyre Vics East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Clyde. Section Five. Arthurlie v Benburb, Neilston v Pollok.Section Six. Clydebank v Maryhill, Glasgow Perthshire v Yoker Athletic, Section Seven. Johnstone Burgh v Greenock, Port Glasgow v Renfrew.Section Eight. Rossvale v Cumbernauld Utd , Kilsyth Rangers v Dunipace.