Hugh Kelly is promising to go for broke in his quest to preserve Shettleston’s status as a Super Premier Division side.

That much was made patently obvious when the long-serving team boss opted to forego taking charge as the Town played out a 4-4 friendly encounter against near neighbours Vale of Clyde last Sunday in favour of standing on the Beechwood Park terracings to take in Kilbirnie Ladeside’s 1-0 victory over Auchinleck Talbot.

The Blasties are next up for the Town this weekend - and Kelly is leaving nothing to chance.

He said: "It’s taken many years and a lot of blood, sweat and tears for Shettleston to earn a place in the top league so it’s only right to do everything humanly possible to try and stay there.

“And please don’t misconstrue my words as meaning I’m happy for us just to survive because my sights are set much higher.

“Our players have excelled and not looked out of their depth this season so it’s reasonable to think we can gain a foothold and stay up.

"However, the key is to then build upon competing week in and week out with the best Junior teams around and at the very least look to establish ourselves as a top half of the table side.

“Hence the reason I’m doing the bit of running the rule over Kilbirnie seeing as they will be coming through to Greenfield Park on league duty this coming Saturday.

“We’ve yet to win in three games against them this season (the Ayrshiremen ran out 2-0 winners in a Scottish Junior Cup second-round replay) but our last meeting was way back in October and I thought it only right and proper to get an up to date feel for how Swifty’s team are playing and of course his personnel changes.”

“Going down to Auchinleck posed a problem because none of our coaching staff were available for the Vale of Clyde friendly.

"However, our captain Reon Juskowiak did a very good job of looking after team affairs.”

Kelly believes his scouting mission was a worthwhile exercise in allowing him to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Shettleston’s next up opponents

He insisted: “We’re in for a tough 90 minutes because they fully deserved their win on the day and are a much improved side from earlier in the season.

“Davie Anderson pulled all the strings and looks far better adjusted to the Juniors while Darren Miller alongside him has is not lacking in quality.

“Also catching the eye were the two front men Adam Forde and Kevin Turner, who both put in a great shift with Forde in particular a real livewire and showing a great desire to play by not giving defenders a moment’s peace.

“And coming away from Auchinleck with a clean sheet speaks volumes about their defensive set-up, so our guys will need to work extra hard for any openings.”

Kelly’s delight at his side’s start to the season did not prevent him making moves to strengthen his playing hand with the signing of ex-Pollok and Vale of Clyde midfielder Thomas Sinclair, who featured for 45 minutes at Fullarton Park .

He said: "Sinky is well known to us as a local lad who had dropped down to the amateur ranks after leaving Pollok and I’m hopeful he can rediscover his best form playing with a club on his doorstep.

And the Town gaffer laughed off rumours continuing to link him with a bid to land another former Newlandsfield fans favourite Carlo Monti, who recently returned to these shores following a playing stint in Malta.

Kelly added: "Carlo’s a matchwinner and I did speak with him on the phone when word first broke of him looking to come back into the Juniors, but there’s nothing further to report as he’s not been in touch since.

“I imagine he may be weighing up his options given the number of clubs said to be on his trail.”

Glasgow hosts another two intriguing Super Premier Division contests with third from bottom Petershill going up against one point worse off Arthurlie in what is shaping up as a massive game for both clubs.

Across the city, Pollok will be without suspended pair Chris Walker and Alan McKenzie for the visit of an Auchinleck Talbot side, determined to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat by Kilbirnie .

A test of character looms for title challenging Rob Roy for whom Willie Sawyers and Gary McMenamin are rated extremely doubtful for the trip through to face Beith and the same could be said about Troon in seeking to avoid a confidence denting third consecutive league defeat when Hurlford United visit Portland Park.