Stevie Swift has batted away suggestions that Kilbirnie Ladeside’s season hinges on how his side fares in this week’s double-header against Hurlford United.

Saturday’s 5-0 defeat of Dalry Thistle through goals from Graham Boyd, Robbie Winters, Ian Gold, Mark Staunton and Stevie Meechan earned the Blasties a trip to Blair Park tomorrow night to face Darren Henderson’s men in an Ardagh Glass Cup quarter-final encounter.

But the West Region fixture list had previously ordained the Ayrshire rivals would be locking horns at Valefield Park next weekend in a Super Premier Division curtain-raiser that had already captured the imagination of both sets of supporters.

Team boss Swifty said: “Hurlford are one of the bookmakers tips for trophy honours, but I totally disagree with anyone thinking their two games in four days against us will be a pointer to where we are as a side.

“ It’s an added pressure we don’t need at the moment and I say that despite the fact my players are in a positive frame of mind and feeling upbeat about what will be a major challenge so early in the season.

“Playing the same team twice in such a short span of time is certainly not to my liking, but the cup draw is what it is though I’m keen that we don’t get ahead of ourselves by revealing our playing hand tomorrow night.

“It’s far more vital that we get away to a good start in the league even though I don’t imagine people will automatically upgrade Kilbirnie as one of the title challengers were we to acquit ourselves well against this strongly fancied Hurlford team.”

Swifty confirmed he will risk aggravating Kieron Donnelly’s tight hamstring in the Ardagh Cup clash and a doubt also hangs over midfield playmaker Davie Anderson who has been blooded slowly back into Junior football after almost a year out of the game with a serious ankle injury.

And there is no likelihood of close season striker signing Adam Forde making an appearance as he is due to undergo a scan this week for a medial ligament injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Cumnock.

The Blasties boss admitted: “Fordy has not kicked a ball in three weeks and his likely continuing absence is a sore one to take considering we had high hopes for him on account of the good form he had shown starting away this season

“Thankfully, we’ve been able to call upon Robbie Winters to fill the gap and he scored again on Saturday to remind everyone that he hasn’t lost his eye for an opening.

“But he continues to be on the radar of other clubs and is pondering over a number of signing approaches which creates a problem for tomorrow night as only signed players can take part in the Ardagh knockout stages.

“The same is true of Mark Staunton, who made a very good impression in featuring against Dalry following his recent release by Stirling Albion but I’m hoping both players will shake hands and agree to initial short term deals.”

In the remaining Ardagh last-eight contests, last season’s beaten finalists Auchinleck Talbot, with Martin McGoldrick and Mark Campbell now restored to their central defensive roles following early season injury woes, appear to have too much in their locker for Maybole on their visit to Beechwood Park.

But matters are not so straightforward to predict in the head-to-head between in-form Troon and reigning trophy holders Glenafton, while a rousing cup atmosphere is promised at Abbey Park where resurgent Kilwinning Rangers await the visit of arch foes Irvine Meadow for whom striker signing Ross McPherson is in top form after netting twice in last Friday night’s 4-1 Marymass Festival victory over Irvine Vics.

On a sad note comes word of the passing on Saturday night of much-respected Junior football character Sheena Thomson, Irvine Vics match secretary, who leaves a massive void to fill in the game

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES

TOMORROW NIGHT (Kick-offs 6.30pm): Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Quarter-finals.

Kilwinning Rangers v Irvine Meadow, Hurlford Utd v Kilbirnie Ladeside . Troon v Glenafton, Auchinleck Talbot v Maybole.

Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup. Quarter-finals. Wishaw v Lanark Utd Pollok v Petershill/Shettleston. Greenock v Vale of Clyde, Rob Roy v Clydebank.

Saturday, August 29 (kick-offs 2.00pm) : West Region Super Premier Division. Kilbirnie Ladeside v Hurlford Utd, Auchinleck Talbot v Shettleston, Glenafton v Rob Roy, Pollok v Troon, Irvine Meadow v Arthurlie, Beith v Petershill.

West Region Super First Division.

Cumbernauld Utd v Maybole, Winton Rovers v Clydebank, Kilsyth Rangers v Bellshill Athletic, Blantyre Vics v Rutherglen Glencairn, Greenock v Cumnock, Yoker v Kilwinning Rangers, Largs Thistle v Shotts Bon Accord.

West Region Central First Division. Neilston v Maryhill, Renfrew v Dunipace, Vale of Clyde v Johnstone Burgh, Carluke Rovers v St Anthonys , St Rochs v Wishaw, Lesmahagow v Thorniewood Utd, Rossvale v Larkhall Thistle.

West Region Central Second Division.

Royal Albert v Ashfield, Port Glasgow v Benburb, Lanark Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Cambuslang Rangers v Newmains Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v Forth, Vale of Leven v Gartcairn. West Region Ayrshire District Division.

Craigmark v DalryThistle , Lugar Boswell v Girvan, Muirkirk v Darvel, Kello Rovers v Saltcoats Vics,Annbank Utd v Irvine Vics, Ardeer Thistle v Whitletts Vics.