Beith and Auchinleck Talbot may be guaranteed to finish this season as the major trophy winners in West Region circles.

But that won’t prevent the top-flight rivals going hammer and tongs at each other in an Ayrshire Cup quarter-final clash today.

Fierce pride will undoubtedly up the stakes on offer - a last-four meeting with Irvine Vics – in this Bellsdale Park showdown of the newly-crowned Scottish Junior Cup kingpins against the winners of the Super Premier Division and West of Scotland Cup.

It promises to be anything but a stale end-of-season affair despite both sides looking likely to be beset by the loss of star players through a combination of injuries and holiday commitments.

And the home team’s line-up could also be influenced by the excessive celebrations that followed (and are still continuing) in the wake of last weekend’s historic ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup Final victory over Pollok .

Experienced defender Kevin McDonald said: "A club of Beith’s size doesn’t experience too many highs like that of last Sunday so everyone connected with the club - players, officials and supporters - have been savouring every minute of it.

“We had an outstanding league fixture to fulfil against Kilbirnie Ladeside on Wednesday night when many of the guys were still at the various stages of sobering up and not surprisingly we suffered a 3-0 defeat.

“But I’ve never known there to be such a thing as a meaningless game against our biggest rivals yet the very fact our fans were smiling and cheering us off the pitch at the final whistle speaks volumes.”

"It’s a different prospect tomorrow against Talbot not least because there’s a cup at stake and we as players don’t want to let ourselves down by taking another beating in front of our own supporters.

“The feelgood factor around Bellsdale and indeed the entire town of Beith is nothing short of stupendous right now and we have the chance to make it continue for longer by getting to another cup final.”

Mighty team boss Johnny Millar admitted to having selection woes as he pondered over his probable line-up last night.

He said: "Tommy Martin (ankle) won’t play again this season and we also have Darren Christie (groin) and Ian Fisher (ankle) as definite non-starters along with Zander Ryan, who is on a beach somewhere .

“We only have a 19-strong playing squad so I’m keeping fingers crossed that everyone else passes muster, but Jamie Wilson is a real concern with painful shins so a decision on him will not be made until nearer kick off time.

“And we cannot expect favours from Talbot whose players are always looking to get the job done.

"But we gave them a game of it in a 2-2 draw on their last visit to Bellsdale so I’m hopeful the guys can step up to the plate again.”

Auchinleck gaffer Tommy Sloan bemoaned his plight in saying: “ Our captain James Latta, Craig McCracken and Martin Findlay are on holiday and we’re probably fortunate to have the rest of the squad available.

“I take nothing for granted, but this end of season situation needs addressing as we have just gone 10 days without a game.

"Yet the possibility exists of the guys being asked to cram in four games in a week starting today.

Tucker who welcomes back defensive stalwart Willie Lyle after injury, added ominously: " The players deserve every credit for winning the title and West of Scotland Cup, but it would be nice to get to another couple of Finals before the season ends.”

The only other game taking place today has relegated Irvine Meadow hosting the visit of a Hurlford United side fired up at the prospect of taking all three points to ensure they finish as Super Premier Division runners-up to Auchinleck.

Meanwhile, supporters looking for Junior action away from Ayrshire could do worse than head along to Dunterlie Park for the playing of the 2016 Legends Tournament between Arthurlie, Pollok , Neilston and St Anthony's where the prize for the winners is the famous old Erskine Charity Cup, last contested in 1993.

Matches are 30 minutes each way and kick-off with Arthurlie v Neilston (12:30pm) followed by Pollok v ST Anthony’s (2:00pm) and the ensuing final (3:30pm )

Among the many club legends taking part are Andy Whiteford, Brian Stevenson, Gordon Cochrane (Neilston), Kris Robertson, John McLay, Alan Jack (Arthurlie), Stevie Aitchison, Gavin Friels, Andy Essler (Pollok), Gary Madden, Danny Taylor and renowned left-winger Tommy Sheridan (St Anthony's)

Playing today: (Kick-offs 2pm): McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Irvine Meadow v Hurlford Utd. Ayrshire Cup. quarter-final. Beith v Auchinleck Talbot.