ROSSVALE boss Martin Lauchlan is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike to keep his team at the top of the Central First Division.

The Bishopbriggs outfit face an idle weekend as scheduled opponents Neilston are due to lock horns with Arniston Rangers in their ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup replay.

And that prospect has opened the door on the chasing pack to make ground on Lauchlan's table toppers.

Second-placed Renfrew were hoping to overcome St Rochs and close to within a point of Vale while the chasing pack fronted by Lesmahagow and Wishaw were also hoping to cut the leeway.

But the forecast of further rain falling on already sodden pitches and culminating in a wave of postponements gave Locky the inkling of an idea which he passed to club officials.

And the result is Rossvale have now provisionally arranged to host Neilston if the East Renfrewshire outfit’s second attempt to settle their third-round tie is kyboshed by an unplayable pitch through at Newbyres Park.

The former Partick Thistle and St Johnstone ace said: "It was always going to be the case that few if any grass pitches would get the go-ahead tomorrow considering the amount of rain that has fallen this past week.

“And knowing we had a booking at New Petershill Park where the Astro-grass surface is in near perfect condition brought me to telephone Neilston manager Andy Whiteford in midweek to see if he was up for the idea.

“He was fully enthusiastic about the opportunity, even to the extent of offering to play if there’s a late call-off by Arniston, though within reason of course.

“I’d imagine we’ll know for certain by late morning, but the very prospect of getting a competitive 90 minutes under our belts has acted to put a spring in the step of our players going through their training session routines."

Rossvale losing 2-1 in a friendly joust against Irvine Meadow at the beginning of this week saw Locky share the goalkeeping duties between ex-Goldenhill Boys Club Under 21’s prospect Lewis Elliot and latest signing Jamie Brown from Alloa.

The Vale gaffer said: "We’ve been forced to make strengthening moves on the keeper front because our regular No.1 Jordan Bowskill is heading out to Australia in January on a year-long work placement.

“He’ll be missed but this fabulous opportunity for someone who is only 23 years of age is just too good to turn down.

”Both Lewis and Jamie showed up well in the Medda game and both will come into our thoughts if the Neilston game gets the thumbs up.”

Every bit as determined to see his Renfrew side take full advantage of their state of the art Astro-grass playing surface at New Western Park is Renfrew co-boss Colin Clark.

But he is resigned to going without injured pair Chris Cameron and Ian Nicholson for the visit of fifth top St Rochs.

He said: “Getting games played when the vast majority of teams are rained off is a massive bonus, but only if we pick up the points.

“We face extremely stiff back-to-back tests with St Rochs followed by Thorniewood United coming here next week and a couple of wins would go a long way towards catching Rossvale and putting a bit of added pressure on their players.

“Any slip-ups on our part are likely to be capitalised upon by Lesmahagow and Wishaw, but nobody should think this is down to a three or four-horse race because it tends to be the case that one or two teams will emerge from the pack to mount a promotion challenge.

“A run of three or four wins on the trot changes everything in this very competitive league.”

In other games, Lesmahagow can expect a derby examination of their credentials when making the short hop to face Carluke Rovers whose top scoring hitman Ian Watt is allegedly attracting the attention of new Gow gaffer Billy McDonald.

The Chris McGroarty-steered Wishaw are likewise on the road, bound for Tollcross to lock horns with First Division bottom markers Vale of Clyde, who ran out penalty kick shoot-out winners when the teams last met at Fullarton Park in an early season Euroscot Eng League Cup semi-final clash.

Thorniewood United will seek to move up at least one place in the standings with a home victory over St Anthony's while one point worse off Johnstone Burgh are strongly fancied to come out on top away to Dunipace.

Top game in the Second Division is the Moor Park head to head of league leaders Lanark United and ambitious Junior newcomers Gartcairn who are likely to blood recent signing Ryan Kennedy at the heart of their defence.

A must-win clash beckons for fifth top Glasgow Perthshire away to second top Newmains United while the stakes are similarly fraught for East Kilbride Thistle in heading down to face third top Cambuslang Rangers.