St Anthony's boss James McKenna has defiantly urged his side to keep believing they can avoid a relegation fate at the end of May.

The famous old Govan club head across city tomorrow seeking to do the double over St Roch's following a 3-2 McKenna Park success back in early September.

That result has turned out to be one of only three Central First Division wins racked up by the Ants -Vale of Clyde and Larkhall Thistle are the others.

And long-serving gaffer Cotter, who has previously served notice of his intention to step down from the manager’s chair at the end of this season, has warned his players of the need to snuff out the Candy Rock’s key men if they are to secure three precious points from this latest Battle of the Saints.

He said: "I thought we deservedly came out on top in our previous meeting.

"However, I recently watched St Roch's running out 5-1 winners against Vale of Clyde and they are a much changed and indeed improved side.

“Andy Cameron has made a great fist of raising his club’s profile not least of all by recruiting the likes of John Sweeney from Pollok.

"His experienced engine room qualities have made a huge difference while the decision to bring back T.J. McLuskey from his loan spell with East Kilbride Thistle provides a scoring threat in tandem with Jordan Logan and Baboucar Mussa that few teams at this level can match.

“For my money, though, the man who makes the Candy tick is midfielder Rab McGuire so keeping his gas at a peep will go a long way towards limiting the service to their dangerous front men.

“The 1-0 victory over Larkhall was our first clean sheet in five months and putting up the shutters again could be crucial as I think we can get at St Rochs defensively.”

Their visit to the James McGrory Stadium begins a make-or-break run-in for the Ants and the vastly seasoned Cotter reckons safety can only be guaranteed by accumulating a total of 31 points, which translates as a further six wins from their remaining nine games.

He said: "I know it’s a huge ask but you never say never in Junior football and I’m staying really positive about our chances of staying up for the very reason that we still have games to play against all the other teams involved in the basement dogfight.

“A lot will depend upon who can hold their nerve best as the pressure builds and I happen to think my St Anthony's players are showing they have the bottle for a survival of the fittest battle.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have our injury worries to seek going into tomorrow’s tester with goalkeeper Johnny Duncan (damaged knee tendons) a definite non-starter along with team captain Ronnie McDonald (hamstring) while rated doubtful at best after missing training in midweek are Willie Duncan, Ryan Smith, Dean Mackay and Graham Crawford.

“We’re not best placed for a game of this importance as you might imagine, but if everyone wearing a St Anthony's shirt gives everything for the cause then don’t rule against us turning things around ”

Candy Rock hitman McLuskey underlined his claims for a starting jersey by netting a brace of goals as a youthful St Rochs - they fielded two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old) went down to a 4-3 midweek friendly defeat by Shettleston.

Cameron, who this week signed up 19-year-old Declan Docherty ex-Thorniewood United and released one of the Provanmill club’s longest serving players, 39-year-old John Connor to join St Mungo's Amateurs, admitted: "I’ve never known there to be an easy game playing against St Anthony's and tomorrow will be no different.”

Matters don’t look any easier for other relegation threatened outfits, not least of all , bottom markers Dunipace in hosting the visit of in-form Maryhill, unbeaten since October and coming with a late charge for promotion on the back of picking up 22 points from their last eight league matches.

Vale of Clyde, sitting second bottom of the pile, albeit with three or more games in hand over all the teams in close proximity, will hope to take something from their Fullarton Park head to head with fellow strugglers Lesmahagow and a crunch clash is promised at the John Cummings Stadium where near neighbours Carluke Rovers and Larkhall Thistle are preparing to lock horns.

The other end of the table sees second-placed Wishaw determined to close to within a point of league leaders Renfrew by taking the spoils when fifth top Johnstone Burgh come through to North Lanarkshire.

Meanwhile,, one hears First Division promotion hopefuls Rossvale, preparing to take on trophy holders Thorniewood United in an intriguing Euroscot Eng Central League Cup opener, could be set to unveil a pre-deadline signing in the shape of one time Junior Scotland striker Richie Barr, who is a former Irvine Meadow and Pollok team-mate of Rossvale team boss Brian McGinty.