Rob Roy boss Stewart Maxwell’s admiration for the team-building and man-management skills of Willie Patterson is gleaned from first-hand experience.

The former full back has always maintained it was a privilege to have played under Patterson and Scott Smith (now retired) at Petershill but tonight he fully intends to use what he has learned from his mentor to outwit him and deal out a Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup knockout blow to the Springburn side.

Ahead of the teams locking horns in tonight’s semi-final clash Guys Meadow (6.30pm), Maxi revealed: “I have nothing but fond memories of a two-year stint at the Peasy that ended as recently as 2012 so it’s astonishing to think only Stevie McNeil and Stephen McGladrigan remain from the team I played in.

“But this constant coming and going of players is so typically Petershill even though they are a very well-run club with officials and fans who treat their players well and forever go out of their way to make me welcome whenever I’m back around New Petershill Park.

“But money talks nowadays and holding on to players can be difficult so it must be frustrating for Willie that he is left with a massive rebuilding job year after year.

"He just gets on with it and by hook or crook somehow manages to keep Petershill in the Super Premier Division – and more often than not in the top half of the table.

“I know he loves the place and his Peasy role – however, you would think his name would be top of the list whenever the elite manager’s jobs are up for grabs in the Juniors.

"He and Paul Kelly must have put a lot of hard work into the summer months to conjure up their latest crop of signings across all sectors of the game and early-season results show their side has started the season strongly and will take some beating.”

Rob Roy have not been slow out of the blocks themselves and last weekend’s 2-0 defeat of Glenafton stretched their unbeaten run to six games – helped no end by goalkeeper Johnny Murdoch & Co recording five consecutive clean sheets.

Maxi admitted: “Of course the day is coming when we will concede goals and lose games but all I ask of my players is they make their opponents work extremely hard for anything they get from us.

“It’s possible our run could come to an end against this highly fancied Petershill side. However, my players are nobody’s poor relations and showed in overcoming Glenafton that we can be a force when in the mood.

“Nobody here is getting carried away with early-season results and the guys were reminded that Saturday’s win means we are now just 22 points away from relegation safety.

“People might think I’m putting up a front with that statement but this Division is littered with pitfalls and I’m determined we avoid them this time around after our relegation in the season before last.

“Willie Sawyers and Chris Duff bagged our goals against the Glens and I’m especially pleased for Willie who has worked hard on the training ground to build up his fitness levels and is proving there is more to his game than just sticking the ball in the net.

“And doesn’t it speak volumes about the strength in depth to our squad when someone of Duff’s ability is coming off the bench?

“That would have been unthinkable least season yet Saturday saw him and Stevie McGuire listed as substitutes and I’m pleased at the prospect of having players of their ilk competing for starting jerseys against Petershill.”

The ambitious Rabs gaffer – a Sectional League Cup winner with Petershill in 2010 – is extra keen to clinch a Final place and move within 90 minutes of the Kirkintilloch club’s first Cup success in nearly 40 years.

He added: “We’ve lifted league titles but people in the club assure me the Rabs last celebrated a Cup win [against Newtongrange Star in the 1977 Jubilee Cup Final] when Kenny Rogers was at No.1 in the charts with Lucille.

“That’s a very long time for a club with our chequered history and I’d love to change our luck and put a smile on supporters’ faces.

“We’ve had the Peasy watched and know their strengths, particularly the front pairing of Glad and Michael Daly who has great aerial prowess. However, big Danny Boyle has been outstanding at the heart of our defence and he’ll welcome the challenge of trying to keep him quiet.

“Theirs is just one of intriguing match-ups and I’m also on tenterhooks waiting to see how influential Peasy midfielder Kieran Daw matches up against our own up-and-coming youngster Luke Whelan, having a terrific first Junior season after coming in from Harmony Row.”

Tonight’s other Euroscot Eng last-four showdown has Vale of Clyde hosting Wishaw in an all-Central First Division showdown.

Tin Pail gaffer Ian Currie is praying his precautionary measure of resting Connor Stevenson and Lee Morrison in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at home to Johnstone Burgh will result in both players declaring themselves fit tonight.

Currie admitted: “Hayden Cochrane is a definite non-starter with a ligament injury but chances are both Connor and Lee will be ready to give us a boost after playing well below our best against the Burgh.

“Wishaw will start favourites but if we raise our game to the same levels shown against Greenock in the quarter-finals then nobody should write us off.”

PLAYING TONIGHT (kick-offs 6.30pm) Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup Semi-Finals: Troon v Kilwinning Rangers, Maybole v Hurlford Utd. Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup Quarter-Finals: Vale of Clyde v Wishaw, Rob Roy v Petershill.