STEVIE SWIFT insists he will not be hitting the panic button despite Kilbirnie Ladeside’s slow start to their Super Premier Division league campaign.

The Blasties finished a very creditable third top of the pile last season - five points adrift of champions Auchinleck Talbot - and are being backed to mount a stiffer title challenge this time out, however ineffectual showings in their opening two league games against Troon and Arthurlie has left them with just one point to their name.

Yet another tough test is in the offing tomorrow when strong going Glenafton come through to Valefield, however Swifty is hoping his playing charges have it in them to rack up a three-points haul and kick on from there.

He reasoned: “Our performances have been governed to a large extent by our success in making it through to the Ardagh Glass Cup Final.

“Having to play the cup’s latter stages in midweek severely limits what you can do at training sessions and has also led to a number of injuries being picked up which have undoubtedly taken a toll on our playing squad numbers.

“This past week has been the first time since the season got underway that we have managed to get down to our regular fare of two nights training and I’d like to think the players will be in better shape for it.

“Unfortunately our injury woes have not totally cleared away yet and already we have rated Davie Anderson as a definite non-starter against the Glens while Martin Grehan and Ciaran Donnelly are at best considered extremely doubtful.

“On the bright side, Davie Green has proved his fitness and is ready to return but to go up against a well-drilled Glenafton side in a weakened state is sure to provide a real examination of our playing strength.”

Transfer whispers reckon Kilbirnie are on the verge of signing Pollok’s up-for-sale forward Carlo Monti ahead of tomorrow’s game were laughed at by Swifty.

He scoffed: “I know the names of those clubs on his trail but we are definitely not one of those in the hunt.

“It’s no secret that we held talks with Carlo aimed at getting him on board when he initially returned from Malta at the start of this year but our approach on this occasion was restricted to nothing more than a cursory telephone call to establish how Pollok were looking to move their player on.

“We received no encouragement whatsoever so our interest died there and then.”

Ladeside’s ambitious gaffer was lukewarm to the announcement by West Region officials that Meadow Park is the venue for the Ardagh Cup Final tilt against Auchinleck Talbot on Sunday, October 9.

He added: “It’s a decent playing surface and our supporters will think it something of a lucky omen because Kilbirnie’s last appearance in the final was also there when running out 3-0 winners over Cumnock.

“A lot of football is due to be played before that game takes place so best if we put it on the back burner for now.”

Among other top-flight clubs seeking to chalk up a first league win are promoted Kilwinning Rangers hosting the visit of early pacesetters Rob Roy whose attacking quartet of Chris Duff, Lee Gallagher, Willie Sawyers and Kevin Watt have been scoring goals for fun.

And an arguably tougher ask confronts Arthurlie in heading down to Portland Park to face a Troon side set to recall hitman Adam Forsyth in their determination to get back on the rails after suffering a 3-1 reverse against Pollok last week.

Meanwhile, the remaining two promoted clubs Cumnock and Largs Thistle are yet to put so much as a point on the board so hard to think either club will be lacking for added incentive ahead of their clash at Townhead Park.

Nock boss John McKeown’s team plans are dented by suspension ruling out top marksman Scott Anson whose absence could see Sean McKenzie and Calum McRobbie form an attacking spearhead.

Elsewhere, comes word of the Exsel Group Sectional League Cup earning the tag of ‘first silverware prize’ of the new Junior season after finalists Rob Roy and Shettleston were pitted to play at Somervell Park on Sunday, October 2 (kick-off 2pm).

TONIGHT'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 7.30pm)

McBookie.com Super First Division: Maryhill v Shotts Bon Accord, Renfrew v Kilsyth Rangers.

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Two Replay: Auchinleck Talbot v Beith.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Pollok v Hurlford Utd, Kilwinning Rangers v Rob Roy, Cumnock v Largs Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Glenafton, Troon v Arthurlie.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Cumbernauld Utd v Irvine Vics, Clydebank v Yoker Athletic, Shettleston v Petershill, Irvine Meadow v Rutherglen Glencairn, Girvan v Blantyre Vics.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Benburb v Thorniewood Utd, Forth Wanderers v Larkhall Thistle, Wishaw v Lesmahagow, Cambuslang Rangers v Bellshill Athletic, Vale of Clyde v Neilston, Johnstone Burgh v Greenock, Rossvale v St Roch's.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Gartcairn v Lanark Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Dunipace, Carluke Rovers v Ashfield, Vale of Leven v St Anthony's, Glasgow Perthshire v Port Glasgow, Newmains Utd v Royal Albert.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Whitletts Vics v Dalry Thistle, Craigmark v Annbank Utd, Muirkirk v Lugar Boswell, Saltcoats Vics v Ardeer Thistle, Kello Rovers v Maybole, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Darvel, Muirkirk v Dalry Thistle.