POLLOK and Neilston lock horns in New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup third round action on Saturday and no one, not least of all respective team bosses Tony McInally and Martin Campbell will be insensitive to the need to secure a place in this season’s quarter-finals.

Both men have a shared history in the competition as they were Benburb team-mates when the famous old Govan club lifted the silverware with a 3-2 defeat of Johnstone Burgh in 2002 (ironically at Newlandsfield of all places) when Macca was left with mixed memories of a 90 minutes in which he was the recipient of the Man of the Match award but missed a penalty-kick…the only one he failed to net in his Junior playing career.

He will undoubtedly be the dugout occupant under the greater pressure come Saturday afternoon because Lok supporters are harbouring dreams of going all the way to the showpiece finale knowing the cup draw has pit Saturday’s winners to host a lower league side in the last eight and if successful, Pollok could then look forward to also having home advantage in the semi-finals when Kilsyth Rangers or Troon Juniors are shaping as the most likely opponents.

Last weekend’s disappointing 3-2 reverse at home to Kilwinning Rangers is still fresh in the minds of the black and white hordes and they will be looking for…no expecting…Macca and his players to bounce back against a Neilston side currently occupying fifth from bottom spot in the Central First Division standings.

But several degrees of difficulty are added to the task in hand by suspension ruling out key defenders Tam Hanlon and Grant Evans on top of midfielder Ryan McStay sitting the game out because he was cup-tied with former club Shettleston.

The backline absences will almost certainly merit a recall for experienced stopper Ross McCabe while a boost on the injury front comes from Colin Williamson and Mark Sideserf proving their fitness by training alongside their team mates this week.

And a starting jersey seems certain to be found for striker Michael Daly after the ex-Petershill hitman made a scoring impact coming off the substitutes bench last week.

The Lok boss said: “Regardless of who plays and who doesn’t we cannot afford to play as poorly as we did in the first half against Kilwinning because we couldn’t beat eggs on that form.

“It was a shocker, arguably our worst 45 minutes of the season, and changes have to be made over and above the enforced ones.”

Visiting gaffer Campbell is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Macca, however he would love nothing better than to put one over on his managerial counterpart particularly after the Farmers Boys ended up on the wrong end of a 5-1 hammering on their last visit to Newlandsfield for a Sectional League Cup clash earlier this season.

Marty recalled: “We actually started well that day and had gained a foothold in the game but we went down to 10 men and Pollok made full advantage of their extra man to put us through the mill.

“The game is probably best remembered for the Pollok full-back Tam Hanlon scoring three wonderful long-range strikes that were talked about in every football arena and were even shown on the Soccer A.M. programme on Sky television where his goals were described as 'the greatest hat-trick ever.'

“You won’t be surprised to learn I’m happy he cannot take part and I just wish Davie Winters and Derek Hepburn were also serving bans.

Neilston’s results have been hot and cold for the most part this season but they showed a semblance of improved form last weekend when goals from Daniel Bamford and Craig Patterson helped rack up a 2-0 victory over Benburb.

The team boss added: “Not a lot has gone our way of late so last week’s win has supplied a confidence lift that will hopefully serve us well against Pollok.

“I’m under no illusions we are facing a tough test but if I can get a few more guys to raise their game to the levels shown by big Paul Young, Alan Diack and Steven Docherty in recent weeks then Pollok will not find us any pushovers.

“Big Paul has been particularly immense and the aerial jousts between him and the lad Daly, if as expected he gets the nod to start, could be crucial in deciding how things pan out.”

Campbell has strengthened his playing squad with the signings of ex-Arthurlie duo Marin Curran and Brian Turner however he refused to say if the players would come into his selection thoughts.

In other West ties, cup holders Auchinleck Talbot are strongly fancied to further their hopes of a third trophy win in three years at the expense of Maybole in a Ladywell Stadium contest game kicking off at the earlier time of 1.30pm.

Beaten semi-finalists last time out Cumnock should prove too strong at home to Blantyre Vics and Troon with newcomer Ryan Stevenson in their ranks appear to have too much in their Portland Park locker for Gartcairn.

Penalty-kicks may be needed to decide the winner in the heavyweight clash of Largs Thistle and Rob Roy and it would not be a surprise if the shoot-out route came into play in the two remaining encounters St Roch's v Annbank Utd and Thorniewood Utd v Darvel.