Auchinleck Talbot’s indifferent form over the past couple of months could derail their challenge for a fifth successive Super Premier Division title.

Even their most diehard supporters cannot regard chalking up a single victory in their last four outings as the hallmark of champions elect.

More so given these wayward results are so untypical of Tommy Sloan and his players who have shown themselves to be the very epitome of consistency in recent seasons.

They have a bit of ground to make up after slipping to fourth place in the standings, nine points behind league leaders Rob Roy on the back of last weekend’s 2-0 reverse against Pollok.

So the pressure is firmly on James Latta & Co to put right the “wrongs” starting with the visit to Beechwood Park today of the frontrunning Rabs.

Hard not to conclude this top-of-the-table clash has the look of a `must win` game for the Ayrshire kingpins, even though gaffer Sloan stopped short of saying as much when looking forward to the game last night.

He said: "The Pollok game is in the past so we have to move on now and hopefully show a bit of character against Rob Roy to put ourselves back in the frame.

“We simply cannot allow their points lead to get any bigger and this game presents an ideal opportunity to eat into our leeway while at the same time getting the poor performance against Pollok out of our system.

“A win would put smiles back on faces and supply a timely confidence lift ahead of taking on Beith in next week’s Scottish Junior Cup tie.”

Already looking a major injury doubt for the cup trip to Bellsdale is full-back Gordon Pope, whose ankle ligament injury picked up in training is not responding to treatment as fast as Tucker would like.

He said: "Popey has no chance of facing Rob Roy today and our hope is the extra rest will do the trick and get him back training with the other players this week.

“He’s not our only absentee as Ross Harvey is struggling with a hamstring strain, which is an injury that will only get worse if you try to play through it and we are also missing Mark Shankland who has pressing commitments elsewhere.”

This first meeting of the clubs this season has Talbot stopper Danny Boyle lining up against his former team-mates after a close season transfer.

However, his direct opponent will not be his close friend and Rabs top marksman Willie Sawyers who continues to be sidelined with a ruptured thigh muscle.

The burly hitman said: "I’m not in the slightest surprised to hear Danny is doing well at Talbot in a defensive partnership alongside my old Harmony Row team mate Martin McGoldrick.

“He’s everything you want in a ball-winning centre-back and was exceptional for us last season but his toughest times were against me in training kickabouts so he’ll probably be pleased that I’m not playing…

“All joking aside, I’m climbing the wall with frustration after seven weeks out of the game and I’m no nearer to a comeback date after feeling twinges in my thigh when I did some running this week.

“My only comfort comes from missing just four games during that time and that total may remain unchanged five tomorrow as word is Talbot’s training was kyboshed on Thursday night because of the weather conditions so the chances of the game going ahead must be doubtful at best.

“If the pitch does pass an inspection then Danny will find Kevin Watt and Shaun Fraser to be a different proposition to myself as they are very mobile types and have been linking up well so I fancy we can sneak a result down there.

“It will be tough with Amadou Kassarate’s recall by Dumbarton and Gavin Mackie sitting the game out through suspension limiting the gaffer’s options.

"But three wins and a draw from our last four games is a clear sign that nobody should be writing us off …weakened or not.”

The striker’s defiant outlook is shared by team boss Stewart Maxwell who insisted: “If there’s such a thing as a more dangerous time to be facing Auchinleck then it has to be after a defeat when Tucker is looking for a reaction from his players.

“We won’t be expected to get a result, however I feel there’s a bit more steel about us than in previous visits and I just hope we can express ourselves and play as we can on the day.

“It might take 10/11 players performing near their best but our guys relish big game occasions and it doesn’t come much bigger than a proverbial six pointer against the reigning Super Premier champions in their own backyard.”

Maxi expressed his disappointment at the continuing absence of Sawyers in saying: “His is an injury that you cannot afford to push in case it goes again and I would say he’s still a couple of weeks away from getting back on the training ground.

“We have a couple of other injury concerns which added to Gavin and Amadou is posing a headache in terms of numbers.

"But we were down to just 13 players last Saturday away to Hurlford yet showed terrific character to come back from 1-0 down and earn a draw that could have been a win but for a wrong offside call ruling out a Shaun Fraser goal in injury time.

“More of that same fighting spirit down at Talbot will serve us well.”

A defeat for Rob Roy could see Glenafton taking over atop the pile if Craig McEwan’s men can overcome visitors Hurlford United whose playing ranks are swelled by the addition of new winger signing Dean Agnew from Kilwinning Rangers.

PLAYING TODAY: (Kick-offs 1.45pm): New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup. First Round.Dunipace v Lanark Utd.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Troon v Cumnock, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Pollok , Glenafton v Hurlford Utd, Auchinleck Talbot v Rob Roy, Kilwinning Rangers v Arthurlie, Largs Thistle v Beith.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Irvine Meadow v Cumbernauld Utd , Kilsyth Rangers v Shotts Bon Accord, Irvine Vics v Petershill ,Blantyre Vics v Rutherglen Glencairn, Maryhill v Shettleston, Renfrew v Girvan, Yoker Athletic v Clydebank.

McBookie.com Central First Division

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

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers, Port Glasgow v Glasgow Perthshire East Kilbride Thistle v Ashfield , Gartcairn v Vale of Leven, St Anthony's v Royal Albert.cBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Darvel v Lugar Boswell , . Kello Rovers v Whitletts Vics, Muirkirk v Ardeer Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Annbank Utd, Saltcoats Vics, v Craigmark, Dalry Thistle v Maybole.