The challenge for underdogs Maryhill in tomorrow’s Scottish Junior Cup fifth-round encounter against Linlithgow Rose is to batten down the hatches and stay in the game long enough to make the East Region cracks doubt themselves.

That’s the considered opinion of the famous old Glasgow club’s highly-regarded team boss gaffer John Hughes.

He was keeping fingers crossed last night in the hope his decision to forfeit home advantage and switch the last-16 clash to neutral McKenna Park in Govan will see the tie go-ahead at the fourth time of asking.

He said: "The weather forecast is for more heavy rain on Friday night, but McKenna Park’s drainage is the best around and I cannot imagine there being any likelihood of the pitch being waterlogged.

“We could have gambled on Lochburn passing muster, but our club officials worked their socks off to have our pitch in a state of readiness ahead of last weekend only for their efforts count for nothing after downpours on Friday and Saturday so I wouldn’t want them going through all that again.

“Another factor behind taking the game across city was to play on grass rather than risk the powers-that-be dictating we go for an Astro-turf surface which was shaping as a strong possibility if another call-off had occurred..

“And if truth be told , I don’t want Maryhill to incur yet another postponement that might lead to us losing more ground in our Super First Division programme .”

Three weeks of postponements has brought Hughes to change his initial game plan thoughts as a result of the enforced absences of players in the intervening period.

Kevin Kelly damaged his knee in a friendly joust against Maryhill Under-19’s and is a definite non-starter along with frontman Willie Wells, who has opted to join Super First Division rivals Irvine Meadow.

Hughes said: “We tried to convince Willie to stay until the end of season, but he’s an ambitious lad who feels he can play at a higher level and the fact he’s been in and out of our team of late probably swayed his mind.

“He goes with our best wishes and his absence and that of Kevin has opened the door for others to come in with a claim for starting jerseys.”

Asking whether the Hill gaffer feels his players are capable of causing a shock upset evoked a measured reply.

He declared: "We are facing one of the top East Region sides and a club with a fantastic cup pedigree so it would be folly to adopt a gung-ho approach from the first whistle.

“We are not aiming to park the bus but it is important that we allow ourselves to settle into the game and find our feet to ensure they don’t get a lift from an early goal.

“ Keeping things on a level footing to the halfway point would represent a moral victory and would allow us to try and commit players forward to start asking questions of Linlithgow.

“Nobody rates our chances of going through to the Quarter Finals but a one-off cup tie is never a sure thing.”

Meanwhile, one hears of a potentially stunning development on the Super Premier Division relegation front where third from bottom in the table strugglers Troon are thought to be on the verge of enlisting the high-profile services of former Ayr United, St Johnstone, Hearts and Partick Thistle striker Ryan Stevenson in their attempts to beat the drop.

And one can well understand there being substance to these eyebrow-raising transfer rumours giving that the well-to-do Junior outfit’s General Manager Jim Kirkwood, also on the board at Ayr United, is well acquainted with 32-year-old's abilities following Stevenson’s four separate playing stints at Somerset Park dotted throughout a somewhat chequered Senior career that saw him come to prominence upon his arrival back in Scotland in 2002 from Chelsea Youths.

Earlier this month, Stevenson’s alleged disillusionment with the Senior game in Scotland led to the surprise announcement of his retirement in the wake of him playing fully 90 minutes in goal for his latest club Raith Rovers after an injury crisis left the Scottish Championship side without their three recognised goalkeepers in a 0-0 draw against Ayr United.

Elsewhere on the comings and goings scene comes word of Blantyre Vics putting highly regarded forward Jordan O’Donnell up for sale at his own request while a change of heart by Rob Roy fringe player Sean McColl has led to the versatile defender coming off the open to transfer list.

And terracing whispers of pending moves are not confined to players as the headline grabbing successes enjoyed by former Rossvale Juniors boss Martin Lauchlan in his current role at the helm of leading Lowland League outfit East Kilbride , is reputed to have attracted more than a passing interest from managerless Clyde.

However, one-time Partick Thistle signing Locky distancing himself from talk of a move upstairs is thought to have brought Broadwood officials to bring their eyes to bear on the Junior ranks in looking to fill their hotseat vacancy and in this respect the exploits of Stewart Maxwell at near neighbours Rob Roy and that of their former player Craig McEwan with Glenafton is sure to have attracted attention.

Playing tomorrow: (Kick-offs 2pm unless stated): Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round (2.30pm), Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose (McKenna Park).

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

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

McBookie.com Super First Division.

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

McBookie.com Central First Division.

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

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

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

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Annbank Utd v Kello Rovers, Dalry Thistle v Darvel, Saltcoats Vics v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Maybole v Lugar Boswell, Craigmark v Whitletts Vics, Muirkirk v Ardeer Thistle