TO say at Junior football level that big game occasions call for the biggest players has absolutely nothing to do with genetics!

And readying themselves to make that point are Beith and Pollok ahead of their eagerly awaited locking of horns this coming Saturday in what is shaping as a crucial Super Premier Division encounter.

It speaks volumes of the quality likely to be on on show that fully seven of the Scotland Juniors squad that figured in last week’s Umbro Quadrangular Tournament are poised to take centre stage…Mighty trio Keir Milliken, David McKenna and Nikky Docherty along with the Lok quartet of Mark Sideserf, Ross Brash, Gary McCann and Bryan Young.

An intriguing scenario that requires a transition to be made from being team-mates one week to deadly rivals the next, however it is not one likely to cause speedy frontman Milliken to have sleepless nights.

He insisted: “Mixing with players from other clubs within the Scotland set-up was a marvellous experience and all of us got on like a house on fire with club rivalries never so much as mentioned.

“Indeed, nobody cheered louder than myself when Gary McCann was voted Scotland’s best player in the tournament at the official dinner on Saturday night but you can take it as read that I’m hoping he has a stinker of a game this week.

“That goes for all the Pollok guys, even Youngy whom I played alongside at Auchinleck Talbot for six years because picking up the three points on offer is all that matters and friendships have to be put on the back burner…for 90 minutes at least.

“And it would be wrong to think I’m in any way extra motivated as I’m willing to bet here and now that you’d get the same response from the Pollok players if you put the questions to them.

“They are winners and very determined characters just as Nikky, David and myself are, so none of us will be holding anything back.”

Milky reckons there will be a number of other players with a point to prove in the Bellsdale Park clash.

He said: “Paul Frize is probably Beith’s outstanding player in our games to date and Darren Christie has also been in top form so Saturday’s game provides the ideal opportunity for them to make a statement about being overlooked for the Scotland Juniors squad.

“And I’m sure the likes of Pollok pair Martin McGoldrick and Stefan McCluskey will be trying to do likewise so all the ingredients are there for a cracking game between two of the top teams doing the rounds.

“Getting away to a good start has allowed us to open up a nine-point gap on them but nobody at Beith has ever written off Pollok as a title challenger given the strength of their playing resources so it’s important we don’t slip up and give them any encouragement on Saturday.”

Beith defender Ryan Docherty misses out through serving a two-game ban for being red carded in a recent game against Kilbirnie Ladeside, however his absence is compensated for by the recovery from injury of regular right-back Connor McGlinchey.

Team boss Johnny Millar insisted: “Connor returned to playing action in the 6-0 victory over Cumnock and it was if he’s never been out of the team.

“Having him back improves our defensive shape yet the reality is we have only conceded five league goals up to now and have looked rock solid for the most part.

“I fully expect Pollok to pose an attacking threat given that Tony McInally has brought in a lot of top quality players this season, however the good thing is he cannot play them all at the same time.”

Pollok No.2 Murdie McKinnon was giving nothing away about the visiting line-up, however his reporting a fully-fit playing squad raises the question as to whether skipper Paul Gallagher will be restored to a defence that kept a clean sheet in their last outing 4-0 defeat of Clydebank.

A strong swell of opinion favours bringing the towering Gal back and the same applies to Scotland Juniors midfielder Brash who was another injury-enforced absentee against the Bankies.

Yet another tasty top-flight contest has reigning champions Glenafton hosting the visit of last season’s runners-up Rob Roy with the Glens boosted by the return of midfield duo David Gray and Ally Park.