A head-to-head between Pollok and Irvine Meadow was once the stuff of cliché.

But the Glasgow outfit’s hosting of the Ayrshiremen tomorrow in the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup is far removed from the days when they regularly traded players, points and punches atop the Super Premier Division pile.

The Medda when erstwhile boss Chris Strain was at the helm would think nothing of buying up the best Junior talent going the rounds to help challenge for the game’s top prizes while the Rab Sneddon-steered Lok were seen as their biggest rivals.

Nowadays the visitors are no longer lavish spenders and a direct consequence of altering their image was relegation to the Super First Division at the end of last season as indeed has been a parting of the ways with a veritable array of top players.

Two of them - Grant Evans, and Gary McCann - could very well be lining up against their former team along with another ex-Irvine Meadow stalwart Mark Sideserf.

Not many of last season’s squad who opted to depart for pastures new are as sorely missed as speedy wing ace McCann.

His trickery and bravery helped to endear him to supporters during a three-year stint at Meadow Park that ensued after he was one of seven ex-Ashfield players to follow their Saracen Park manager Stevie Rankin when he was appointed to the helm of the Ayrshire club.

McCann said: "Those first two seasons were memorable for all the right reasons and the backing we enjoyed from the fans in our run to the Junior Cup semi-finals was nothing short of brilliant.

“Back then nobody could ever have imagined the downturn in fortunes that occurred last season, though I still enjoyed playing for the club even though results were not what we expected them to be.

“Even on the bad days, our supporters were great to the likes of myself so I’m looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces at Newlandsfield and my decent relationship with the Medda fans means I don’t expect to get abuse but if it comes my way then I’ll just take it in my stride.

“My focus is on giving everything to help Pollok come out on top and I’d love to get my name on the scoresheet which might be ironic to say the least as I scored the only goal of the game last season when Irvine Meadow knocked Pollok out in the same competition .”

The anticipated warm reception afforded to McCann by visiting supporters is unlikely to be reciprocated in the case of Pollok assistant manager Murdie McKinnon whose Meadow Park departure might aptly be described as acrimonious.

Last night he said: "Yes there was an unhappy ending to our time down in Ayrshire, but I think it no exaggeration to say Stevie and I put a lot of smiles on faces in our first couple of years at the club.

“And I’m not going to open up old wounds, but people were saying they would unveil statues of us if the team could win the Scottish yet we were sacked just 18 months later.

“I prefer to remember the great times spent interacting and celebrating great victories with our supporters and nothing that has happened since can take away those great memories.

“I was disappointed for things to end on a sour note but that’s football and we all have to move on.”

Yet another former Irvine Meadow signing in the home team ranks is experienced midfielder Ryan McStay however he played against Hurlford in a West Cup first round tie for Shettleston and is a definite non-starter .

Murdie revealed , “Ryan has showed up well in both his outings since putting pen to paper and he’ll be missed but I’d like to think the prospect of putting one over on their old team will have the other guys pulling out the stops.

“I’m not in the least bit surprised that Gary is held in such high esteem by Irvine Meadow as he’s undoubtedly a marquee player that just about every team would love to have on their books.

“But we’re the ones fortunate to have him at Pollok and hopefully he’s in the mood tomorrow afternoon.”

In other New Coin Holdings Cup contests , holders Auchinleck Talbot are fancied to continue their defence of the trophy with a win at home to Whitletts Vics but a trio of more difficult to call all-Ayrshire encounters are the clashes between Cumnock v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Glenafton v Troon and Largs Thistle v Beith.

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick Offs 2 PM): Scottish Junior Cup Fourth Round.

Rob Roy v Musselburgh Athletic New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup.Second Round.

Annbank Utd v Maryhill, Auchinleck Talbot v Whitletts Vics, Benburb v Kilwinning Rangers, Cumnock v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Glenafton v Troon, Largs Thistle v Beith, Larkhall Thistle v Craigmark, Pollok v Irvine Meadow , Rossvale v Neilston, Royal Albert v Maybole, Saltcoats Vics v Kilsyth Rangers, Shettleston v Blantyre Vics ,St Rochs v Petershill, Thorniewood Utd v Darvel.

First Round: Dunipace v Lanark Utd.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Yoker Athletic v Clydebank, Girvan v Rutherglen Glencairn, Shotts Bon Accord v Renfrew.

McBookie.com Central First Division

Bellshill Athletic v Greenock, Lesmahagow v Vale of Clyde, Johnstone Burgh v Cambuslang Rangers, Forth Wanderers v Wishaw.

McBookie.com Central Second Division

East Kilbride Thistle v Gartcairn, Port Glasgow v Ashfield, Dunipace v Port Glasgow, Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers, St Anthony's v Vale of Leven.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Ardeer Thistle v Dalry Thistle, Lugar Boswell v Muirkirk.