IT’S often said that statistics don’t lie so there can be no denying Largs Thistle have made a somewhat inglorious return to the top flight of Junior football after winning promotion last season.

But a glance over their more recent Super Premier Division numbers is a source of immense satisfaction for Theesel boss Stuart “Arnie” Davidson. Three wins from four outings have seen him relishing the prospect of this weekend’s trip up to Glasgow to take on Pollok in what will be the final game of 2016 for both clubs.

Arnie last night insisted: “A huge motivating factor for wanting to win promotion was the thought of coming to arenas like Newlandsfield and running out in front of a big crowd, so now comes the chance for our players to show what they can do.

“We are well aware Pollok have quality in their side after beating us 4-1 at Barrfields but there is no need for us to fear them given our current winning run which has seen us post victories over Arthurlie and Troon as well as serving up our best display of the season last Saturday to run out 2-0 winners away to Hurlford United.

“Yet my delight at chalking up a first win of the season on our travels was duly tempered by word coming through of basement rivals Kilwinning Rangers and Kilbirnie Ladeside having picked up three points themselves to leave us still sitting bottom of the table.

“And these latest results are yet another reminder that there is precious little to choose between the Super Premier teams and anyone can beat anyone on their day.”

Asking Arnie to explain the Ayrshiremen’s recent revival evoked a typical down-to-earth reply.

He said: "It’s been a team effort with a lot of the guys pulling their weight however a major factor in giving us a bit more defensive steel has been the arrival of Eddie Walton from Maryhill for what is his second playing stint here.

“Eddie’s great experience has undoubtedly made a difference and he’ll get better as his fitness improves not least because of the calming influence he exerts on our central defensive pair Nikky Jamieson and Creag Little.

“Jamie McDonald, James Marks and Ian Fisher have also been catching the eye out on the pitch but it would be amiss of me not to give credit to the arrival of Stevie Swift as a coach onto the Largs backroom team.

“Swifty has great attention-to-detail qualities which dovetail perfectly with what Kevin Struthers and I are putting across on the training pitch and I believe the players appreciate his extra input.”

Arnie has warned his charges to expect an onslaught from their southside hosts as Tony McInally’s men seek to end 2016 on a relatively high note and bring a dismal run of four games without a win to an end.

Macca said: “We have prepared for a very tough encounter as the 4-1 result in our earlier meeting with Largs disguises what was a very evenly contested 90 minutes for the most part.

“And now their players appear to have got their act together and are playing with a lot more confidence but that was always going to be the way of things with someone like Arnie in charge.

“He s a battler who will believe his players can get clear of the relegation drop zone and they will come to Newlandsfield looking to have a go and they will be physical so the need to meet fire with fire may result in a return for Michael Daly and Alan McKenzie who didn’t start game against Cumnock because of a virus.

“Thankfully both have trained this week without any reaction though there remains a doubt over Tam Hanlon who suffered a groin strain last week however Grant Evans is available for selection again and could slot in as a replacement.”

And Macca agrees wholeheartedly with counterpart Arnie’s comments about there being a sameness about the vast majority of Super Premier teams.

He added: “Things are desperately tight at both ends of the table and I certainly couldn’t predict right now who will be the eventual champions and you only have to look back at last weekend’s results for proof of how every team is capable of beating one another.

“Hand on heart I’d say Glenafton are the best team we’ve played in the league up to now but Rob Roy are on a great run and may take some stopping, while I cannot rule out Auchinleck after their two outstanding performances against us in the Scottish Junior Cup.

“And there are so many other teams hovering in mid-table, including Pollok, who could yet finish top of the pile by stringing a run of victories together.

“That’s easier said than done in this Division but you just never know.”

In other games, second bottom Kilwinning Rangers will not find points easy to come by away to Glenafton and it remains to be seen whether Mark Bradley’s magic touch can bring Kilbirnie Ladeside a third consecutive victory when the Blasties host the visit of a Hurlford United side struggling for form and sitting just one point better off than their opponents from having played one game more.