BLANTYRE Vics captain Terry Hewitt has warned his team-mates that their hopes of winning a third successive promotion are entering a make-or-break period.

The towering stopper was at his inspirational best came roaring back to form with goals from Ryan Tiffney and Scott Davison sealing a 2-0 victory over Kilsyth Rangers last weekend in new manager Murdie McKinnon’s first game in charge.

His central defensive pairing alongside comeback ace Kevin Green with newcomer Craig Buchanan and trialist Paul McMenamin in the full-back berths provided the foundation for the shot-shy Vics (they are joint lowest goalscorers at Super First Division level along with Bellshill Athletic) to come good and pick up three welcome points.

And now the 27-year-old former Airdrie and Clyde signing is demanding the gap between his Lanarkshire side and the leading title contenders is further bridged when high-flying Clydebank visit Castle Park today.

He said: "People are writing us off as being part of the basement dogfight yet winning our games in hand would move us to within a point of Kilwinning Rangers up in third top spot so nobody in our dressing room is for giving up the chase .

“And I say that even though we are well aware of the threat posed by a very direct Clydebank side boasting pace in abundance but Murdie is very methodical and he will set us out to be organised and difficult to break down.

“Kevin Green’s return after nearly four months of an injury absence helps no end in that respect and Buchy had a wonderful debut against Kilsyth.

"So I’m feeling confident of giving the Bankies a run for their money particularly if Scotty can provide us with more of a cutting edge .

"His was a well taken effort against Kilsyth and the fact he is facing one of his former clubs might see him raise his game a few more notches.”

Blantyre gaffer McKinnon, who has placed experienced defender Brian McLaughlin on the transfer list, believes Castle Park’s notoriously heavy playing surface could work in his side’s favour.

He said: "Right now there has to be a doubt whether the game can go ahead, but if it does pass muster then I’d like to think we have more players than Clydebank whose attributes make them more suited to the heavier going.”

Bankies boss Budgie McGhie, whose selection hand is boosted by the return to action of Andy Patterson and Jordan Shelvey, knows to expect a testing 90 minutes.

He said: "Blantyre are a far better team than their current league position shows and we certainly don’t expect to get things all our way going through there .

“And no doubt the two former Clydebank players Stevie Dymock and Kevin Green in their line-up will be out to prove a point so my players need to show they can roll up their sleeves when the occasion demands it .

“I don’t expect it to be a footballing classic if the game passes a pitch inspection, however how we win is immaterial just as long as another three points are chalked up on the board to keep the pressure on league leaders Largs Thistle."

Largs take on Yoker Athletic at Holm Park and will doubtless be looking to get back on the rails after dropping seven points in their last three outings and fellow Ayrshire promotion challengers Kilwinning and Cumnock are likewise in action with the Buffs fancied to make home advantage tell against Greenock.

And Cumnock will need to show they can overcome the disappointment of last weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup exit when taking to the road to face bottom markers Maybole.

Meanwhile, if rumours prove founded that erstwhile Blantyre Vics boss Davie Greig has signed up controversial ace Adam Strachan who had been turning out for Glasgow Perthshire in recent weeks then Medda supporters can expect to see the former Partick Thistle winger figure at some stage of today’s ETHXenergy Scottish Cup fourth-round replay joust with Linlithgow Rose.

Elsewhere, Arthurlie’s players heading deep into the Ayrshire heartlands to face Craigmark in their three times postponed New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup second-round clash were given added motivation when West Region officials came together to make the long standing competition’s third-round draw.

The Barrhead side’s reward if they manage to overcome their Ayrshire District League opponents is an anything but daunting last 16 tie away to Super First Division strugglers Bellshill Athletic.

While beaten finalists from last time out – Kilwinning Rangers - are unlikely to be fazed at the prospect of a trip through to meet Cumbernauld United after winning 3-0 on a league visit to Guys Meadow earlier this season.

Auchinleck Talbot, with a record-breaking 11 West Cup triumphs to their name host the visit of ale of Clyde or Cambuslang Rangers while Rob Roy are at home to the winners of the second-round showdown between Clydebank and Whitletts Vics.

The full draw is: Rob Roy v Clydebank or Whitletts Vics, Girvan v Hurlford Utd, Bellshill Athletic v Craigmark or Arthurlie, Cumnock or Rossvale v Johnstone Burgh or Irvine Meadow, Benburb v Glenafton, Beith v Kilsyth Rangers, Auchinleck Talbot v Vale of Clyde or Cambuslang Rangers, Cumbernauld Utd v Kilwinning Rangers (No dates have been fixed at this stage).