AUCHINLECK Talbot will look to boost hopes of landing a fourth consecutive Super Premier Division title by getting the New Year off to a winning start at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside tomorrow afternoon.

The clash of the fierce Ayrshire rivals promises to be a keenly contested 2016 opener and gaffer Tommy Sloan is feeling bullish about the prospect of his players continuing their impressive eight-game winning run.

That unbeaten sequence has helped Talbot assume the league leaders mantle on goals difference from erstwhile frontrunners Rob Roy.

Not even the blip of a 2-0 midweek friendly defeat against Kilwinning Rangers, for whom Dean Agnew and Rikky Hanvey were on target, could diminish Tucker’s enthusiasm for the eagerly awaited Beechwood Park showdown

He said: "Conditions were not exactly the best, but the game more than served its purpose in ensuring a number of the guys managed to get 90 minutes under their belts and I’ve no complaints whatsoever about the result.

“Another major plus was Keir Milliken showing he had recovered from injury by coming on to play the closing stages with no adverse reaction, however we didn’t risk James Latta and Steven White on the surface.

"So they remain an injury concern and it will be much closer to kick off time before any decision is made on whether they are fit to start.

“I’d certainly like to have them available for selection as it’s vital we keep our momentum going given that after today comes a visit to Pollok followed by our ETHXenergy Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Cumnock and to come out on top in all three games would represent the perfect start to the New Year.

“I’m well aware it’s a huge ask and we have prepared accordingly for a tough start to our programme because Kilbirnie have clearly strengthened their team with the close season acquisitions of Mark Staunton, Davie Anderson and Darren Miller while I’d imagine their big centre-back Michael O’Byrne will be out to prove a point coming back here.

“Our supporters may recall he was formerly at Airdrie and East Stirling prior to making a few trialist appearances for us until our opting instead to sign Mark Campbell led to him moving East to join Linlithgow Rose.

“He’s decent so if Swifty’s other additions are of a similar ilk then Ladeside could be a team to watch this season.”

Word from the visiting camp suggests the Blasties could be shorn of a number of their top playing talents and earlier today team boss Stevie Swift confirmed the quartet of Staunton, ex-Albion Rovers skipper Ciaran Donnelly, Keiran Brannan and Stevie Meechan are rated definite non-starters.

He said: “Staunts was forced to sit out our last outing against Glenafton with a knee problem which is on the mend, but he has yet to return to training so the game’s coming too soon for him.

“Donnelly and Brannan both suffered groin strains and had to be replaced within the opening half hour of the Glens game and need at least another week’s rest while Meechan has tweaked a knee ligament and will also be afforded time to recover as a precaution not least because we are in a similar boat to Talbot in having some massive games looming on the horizon.

“That said, we have the opportunity to welcome back Ian Gray to partner O’Brien in central defence and if the pair of them can keep us tight defensively then I would not rule out the chances of our forward line combination of Kevin Turner and Adam Forde pinching a goal at the other end of the pitch.

“You can see they have the makings of a terrific partnership and I fancy they might pose one or two problems for the Talbot backline.”

Junior followers from in and around Glasgow unable to journey down into the Ayrshire heartlands may be enticed over the door by the prospect of taking in a Fullarton Park friendly contest tomorrow between near neighbours Vale of Clyde and Shettleston (kick-off 1pm).

Junior newcomers Gartcairn gave rise to thoughts that they might be one of the teams to closely watch in the second half of the season after attracting rave notices with a 6-1 hammering of higher league Rossvale last night.

Phil Dolan, Scott Murphy with a hat-trick and a brace of goals from former Rossvale striker Yammi Misanjo allowed the Central Second Division outfit to take a notable scalp.

PLAYING TOMORROW

(Kick-offs 1.45pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Bellshill Athletic.