AUCHINLECK Talbot are everyone’s favourites to win the Scottish Junior Cup this season – except Tommy Sloan, that is.

The Talbot gaffer’s reaction to his side being paired with Lochee United in this week’s Scottish Junior Cup semi-final draw was typically low key and full of respect for the Taysiders, who are striving to make only the second Cup Final appearance in their history after losing 2-0 against Tayport in 2005.

Tucker by comparison is in line for an astonishing eighth Final with the Ayrshire club (five as winning manager) but he is quick to refute the notion Talbot’s outstanding history in the Junior game’s showpiece competition will have any bearing on the forthcoming double-header.

He said: "What’s happened in years gone by is past and will count for nothing other than providing the Lochee players with some added motivation to take our scalp.

“Semi-finals are always decided by what happens on the day, so I firmly believe both ourselves and Lochee will be going into the Beechwood Park first leg on a level footing.

“And you only have to look at their impressive results this season to know they are unlikely to be quaking in their boots at that prospect given they have come down to Ayrshire twice before in their Cup run and beaten the likes of Irvine Meadow and Beith.

“They clearly have something about them particularly in defence seeing as they have only conceded one Cup goal up to now and that was a penalty in the Beith game so my players will need to be on their guard.”

Meanwhile, Auchinleck Talbot can also lay claim to the distinction of being record 12-time winners of the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup which takes centre stage for Sloan and his players later today at home to St Roch's in one of the plum second-round ties.

It might be thought ominous for the Glasgow visitors to hear Sloan reporting a fully fit Bot squad. Yet while the treatment table is clear, last weekend’s 3-1 Super Premier Division defeat by Clydebank that brought an end to a seven game winning run is still raw for the players.

Tucker admitted: “The guys have been playing at a decent tempo and have been particularly potent in front of goal but I always felt our big test would come when we couldn’t manage to stick away three or four of the chances created.

“That day came at Clydebank last week yet truth is we were flying first half and the game would have been stopped if it was a boxing match, but we just couldn’t get another goal because the Bankies put their bodies on the line to restrict us to a 1-0 lead at the halfway stage.

“No changes were made for coming back out yet we just never got back into the same rhythm and the points were snatched away from us by Clydebank then scoring three goals without actually getting inside our penalty box.

“To score one long-range effort past a goalkeeper of Andy Leishman’s ability takes some doing but the Bankies did it three times and here’s hoping the kick up the backside will be a lesson on what can happen if you don’t kill teams off.

"St Roch's are up next and we need to get our momentum back quickly so maybe the time is right to freshen things up with a few changes.”

The Candy Rock took a 5-0 pasting on their last visit to Beechwood but seasoned campaigners John Carter, Robert Halliday and Tam Hanlon will be aboard their team bus (specially sponsored by local taxi company Network Cabs) for the trip into the Ayrshire heartlands and gaffer Andy Cameron is hoping their experience will enable his young side to settle quickly into their normal game.

In other key New Coin Holdings contests, Beith will look to avoid a third consecutive defeat when hosting Neilston and Central Second Division leading lights Gartcairn will be out to build their status as a team on the rise when taking on Clydebank at the MTC Park.

And seeking a much-needed confidence boost are Arthurlie for whom returning striker James Marks is set to be unveiled for their clash at home to Saltcoats Vics.

“Slick”, 33, was transfer-listed by Irvine Meadow last month but it looked like a move ahead of today’s transfer deadline was not going to happen until a swap deal taking Junior internationalist midfielder Colin Spence to Meadow: Park was thrashed out between the clubs.

Yet another piece of Junior transfer business to go through before today’s deadline has seen Rutherglen Glencairn give a shot in the arm to their Super First Division promotion hopes by snapping up Maryhill midfielder Sean McCall who previously turned out with Rob Roy.

PLAYING TODAY: (Kick Offs 2PM) McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Pollok v Kilwinning Rangers.McBookie.com Super First Division. Shettleston v Cumbernauld Utd, Petershill v Renfrew, , Kello Rovers v Maryhill.McBookie.com Central First Division. East Kilbride Thistle v Benburb, Glasgow Perthshire v Port Glasgow, Rossvale v Blantyre Vics.McBookie.com Central Second Division.,Dunipace v Vale of Clyde, Royal Albert v Carluke Rovers, Bellshill Athletic v Lanark Utd, Newmains Utd v Vale of Leven McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Muirkirk v Annbank Utd. New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup.Ashfield v Craigmark, Auchinleck Talbot v St Rochs , Beith v Neilston, Cumnock v Wishaw, Gartcairn v Clydebank, Girvan v St Anthonys, Largs Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers, Larkhall Thistle v Irvine Meadow,Shotts Bon Accord v Whitletts Vics , Troon v Maybole , Ardeer Thistle v Greenock, Arthurlie v Saltcoats Vics , Dalry Thistle v Darvel, Forth Wanderers v Thorniewood Utd, Hurlford Utd v Lesmahagow , Kilbirnie Ladeside v Johnstone Burgh , Rob Roy v Irvine Vics.