David Gray believes Glenafton are in great shape going into a momentous early season double-header this week.

The one-time Dundee United and Kilmarnock midfielder was speaking ahead of the Glens making the short hop through to face neighbourly foes Cumnock in a vital Ardagh Glass Cup section game tomorrow night.

The clash comes just three days before last season’s double Scottish Junior Cup and Super Premier Division winners assume the role of standard bearers for the Junior game when hosting the visit of Newton Stewart in a William Hill Scottish Cup First Preliminary Round tie.

There can be no disputing Craig McEwan’s men have hit the ground running as they currently lead the highly competitive Ardagh Section Six standings after garnering full points from their initial fixtures.

An opening 1-0 defeat of Auchinleck Talbot was followed by Saturday’s 3-1 win against Muirkirk through goals from John Carter (2) and defensive newcomer Ian McKnight.

So a third successive victory would put Glenafton in a very good position to clinch a quarter-final place and 29- year-old playmaker Gray is hoping he and his team-mates can see the job through.

He said: "There’s a real feelgood factor about the place on the back of last season’s successes which we carried into our pre-season friendly outings, playing good football and scoring plenty of goals in the process.

“We lost just once - 5-3 away to Linlithgow Rose - but nevertheless played very well and everyone involved with the club has been looking forward to getting the new campaign underway in earnest.

“Starting away with two wins has supporters dreaming of more silverware, but nobody in our dressing room is getting carried away and all our focus is on playing to our abilities in the local derby against a very dangerous Cumnock side that is packed with top players.

“Games against them tend to be hard fought and close to call so we are anticipating another tough 90 minutes tomorrow night.”

Gray revealed that the final whistle sounding at Townhead Park will be the first time his Glens side will turn their attention to the threat posed by their Scottish Cup opponents from the South of Scotland League .

He added, “They are a bit of an unknown quantity, however our gaffer Craig will have had them watched and no doubt we will have our cards marked on their playing strengths before the game next Saturday.

“It helps that we have home advantage and having another home tie awaiting the winners (against Golspie Sutherland) is a terrific incentive for a club like ours.”

Asking whether the Ayrshire cracks have what it takes to scale the summit of Junior football again this season brought the East Kilbride-based ace to make a no-nonsense retort..

“It’s not beyond us to be up there challenging for the big prizes and certainly the experiences of last season can only work in our favour not least because only Daniel Orsi has left from our cup-winning side.

“For certain it will be more difficult with teams queuing up to knock us off our pedestal, but the gaffer has bought well on the transfer market with the additions of Dale Moore and Jambo (James McKernon) as well as young Ian McKnight who is from New Cumnock and is a product of Glenafton Boys Club.

“He‘s a big and raw old school type centre-half type with the makings of a decent prospect if he can pick up good habits from the older heads around him.”

Ardagh Section One rivals Kilwinning Rangers and Beith clocking up two wins apiece from their two opening games looks like spelling elimination for the reigning trophy holders Kilbirnie Ladeside after they succumbed to a second successive defeat away to Largs Thistle, also on the six points mark after goals from Scott Adam (2) and Martin Orr earned a 3-1 winning scoreline.

Meanwhile , new Kilsyth Rangers manager Chris McGroarty and his assistants Glenn Weir and Mark Daly met their new playing charges for the first time last night after McGroarty ended his three year term in charge of Wishaw Juniors.

The Central First Division outfit are inviting applications for their vacant post and word has it that experienced and out of work Junior boss James McKenna could be one of the front-runners.

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES:

TOMORROW (Kick-offs 6.45pm): Central Sectional League Cup.

Section One: Forth Wanderers v Lesmahagow, Royal Albert v Lanark Utd

Section Two: Carluke Rovers v Newmains Utd, Wishaw v Gartcairn.

Section Three: Bellshill Athletic v Petershill, Shettleston v St Roch's.

Section Four: Rutherglen Glencairn v Blantyre Vics, East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Clyde.

Section Five: Arthurlie v Benburb, Neilston v Pollok.

Section Six: Glasgow Perthshire v Yoker Athletic, Clydebank v Maryhill,

Section Seven: Port Glasgow v Renfrew, Johnstone Burgh v Greenock.

Section Eight: Rossvale v Cumbernauld Utd v Kilsyth Rangers v Dunipace.

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup.

Section One: Beith v Largs Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Dalry Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers v Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

Section Two: Irvine Vics v Ardeer Thistle, Darvel v Irvine Meadow, Saltcoats Vics v Hurlford Utd.

Section Three: Annbank Utd v Maybole,Craigmark v Troon, Whitletts Vics v Girvan.Section Four.Lugar Boswell v Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock v Glenafton,Kello Rovers v Muirkirk.

Saturday, August 12 (Kick-offs 2pm): Central Sectional League Cup. Section

One: Lesmahagow v Lanark Utd, Larkhall Thistle v Royal Albert.

Section Two: Wishaw v Shotts Bon Accord, Gartcairn v Carluke Rovers.

Section Three: St Roch's v Petershill, Thorniewood Utd v Bellshill Athletic.

Section Four: Blantyre Vics v Cambuslang Rangers , East Kilbride Thistle v Rutherglen Glencairn.

Section Five: Pollok v Arthurlie, Neilston v St Anthony's.

Section Six: Clydebank v Ashfield, Maryhill v Yoker Athletic.

Section Seven: Renfrew v Greenock, Vale of Leven v Johnstone Burgh.

Section Eight: Cumbernauld Utd v Dunipace, Rossvale v Rob Roy.

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Section One. Beith v Kilwinning Rangers, Dalry Thistle v Largs Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Section Two: Irvine Vics v Irvine Meadow, Saltcoats Vics v Darvel, Hurlford Utd v Ardeer Thistle.

Section Three: Troon v Annbank Utd, Maybole v Whitletts Vics, Girvan v Craigmark

Section Four: Muirkirk v Cumnock, Auchinleck Talbot v Kello Rovers.