Chris Strain reckons his Kilwinning Rangers players can best prepare for their ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup semi-final against Beith by completely ignoring them …at least for the next week and a bit.

The comparatively young team boss - he turned 36 yesterday - had a birthday wish for his players in urging them to adopt the oft used adage of “taking one game at a time".

And that mantra starts today when the Buffs host the visit of Greenock in the pick of the Super First Division fixtures taking place.

Last night said: "I know it sounds clichéd but I keep saying to everyone within earshot that we must put Beith on the back burner and first focus our thoughts on two massively important league games, Greenock tomorrow followed by Ardrossan Winton Rovers next week to see where it gets us.

“Then and only then will I turn my thoughts to Beith and I want my players to steer clear of the building cup fever in the town and do the same.”

His words endorse the fact Strainy’s ambition to restore the famous old Ayrshire club amongst the West Region elite is burning brighter than ever and has him adamantly insisting he will not tolerate any of his players conserving energies ahead of their glamour ETHX Cup clash.

He said: "My goal when taking on the Kilwinning manager’s role was to take this club back into the top flight where I believe they belong and I also happen to think I’m in charge of a magnificent group of players who deserve to be competing against Junior football’s finest week in and week out.

“For those very reasons, promotion has continued to remain my No.1 aim this season despite all the hype surrounding our cup run.

“ I’m not totally blind to the notion of players having one eye on our Scottish Cup semi-final, but my way of thinking believes we have a minimum of 18 games to play before the end of this season and they are all Cup Finals.”

The Abbey Park dressing room boasts a playing squad consisting of many players in the 18-24 years bracket and the articulate gaffer is confident his step-up hopes can be realised by this youthful core staying the course over Kilwinning’s exacting run-in.

And a test of character undoubtedly awaits against an in-form Greenock sitting fifth top of the standings and a mere point behind their Ayrshire opponents after winning four of their last five Super First outings.

Strainy admitted: "Largs Thistle have established a healthy points lead over the chasing pack while Clydebank and Cumnock aren’t looking as if they will drop many points.

"So we simply cannot afford the same slip-ups that followed our win over Linlithgow Rose in our Scottish fifth round tie.

“Coming down to bread and butter affairs after the euphoria of the cup can often be a bit of a downer and we found that out the hard way with below-par displays leading to draws with Cumbernauld United and Winton Rovers that have left us playing catch up on the leading sides.

“So you can understand my determination to see us pick up nothing less than six points from these two home games and get ourselves back in the hunt for the promotion places before having to play make or break contests against all the top three teams .

“But we have to be aware that Greenock will not be coming here just to make up the numbers so we’ll have to be playing at the very top of our game.”

Word on the team front has commanding stopper Martyn Campbell rated a definite non-starter with a calf muscle problem while the likelihood is classy midfielder Liam McGuinness who has been feeling a hamstring strain this week.

And no doubt supporters will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief when the Buffs line up without club talisman Ben Lewis, said to be devastated at the prospect of missing his first game in eight years because of carrying out Usher duties at a wedding.

Strain will not disclose his selection thoughts until nearer to kick off time but is spoiled for replacement choices in having Kyle Cumming and Robert Boyd waiting in the wings and he also has the option of going for a reshuffle to bring in veteran front man Ian Cashmore.

The great togetherness and spirit fostered by Greenock boss Martin Campbell has him and his players looking forward to their trip into Ayrshire and the chance to make headlines by taking a big name scalp.

Martin revealed: "The extra quality supplied by our signings of Jamie Campbell and Paul Harkins has made a difference though we have resorted to grinding out results rather than setting the heather on fire in recent matches.

“Our target every season is to show signs of progression and beating this Kilwinning Rangers side would be a sure sign of that so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Not everything is upbeat in the Strain footballing household as earlier this week Chris Strain senior resigned as manager of Ardrossan Winton Rovers along with backroom team duo John McColl and George Watt, leaving the relegation threatened Ayrshire outfit rudderless for today’s home game with Cumbernauld United.

In other news, new Rossvale Juniors manager Brian McGinty has suffered a hammer blow ahead of today’s top-of-the-table clash with Renfrew after Alloa recalled Martin Hardie from the Bishopbriggs club and loaned him back out to East Kilbride F.C. - managed by ex-Rossvale gaffer Martin Lauchlan.