A quirk of coincidence has Clydebank starting the defence of their Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup today with a trip to Lochburn Park, where they lifted the silverware last season with a 2-0 defeat of Pollok.

Bankies boss Budgie McGhie would be expected to be confident over his side's prospects of coping with lower league Maryhill in this Section Six opener, but a player crisis threatens to ruin his dream of keeping the trophy.

He said: "Maryhill's manager Brian Heron and I work together in the shipyard and the banter has been lively this week with him claiming his team are not best placed to cause an upset on account of suspension ruling out Justin Begg and Paul Callandar. However, I have fully half a team sitting out the game.

"Paul Bell and Craig McReadie are injured, Austin McCann is at a wedding, Joe Andrew - who scored both our goals in the 2-1 midweek victory over Dumbarton - is on holiday, while Graham Mort sits the game out because of a ban carried over from his time as a Renfrew player.

"Having five players sidelined who would all have been in contention for starting places is far from ideal, though I imagine just about every Junior football manager will be affected by the absence of key players.

"And I don't see this situation changing much over the next couple of weeks, so a few surprise results are likely."

Budgie has been delighted with the form shown by his charges in emerging with five wins and a draw from their friendly encounters.

He added: "I've seen enough to think players like Joe Gold, Andy Patterson and new striker Jordan Shelvey are peaking at just the right time."

The cup's last-eight pairings have the winner of section one against the winner of section eight, the winner of section two against the winner of section six, the section three winner against the section seven winner and the section five winner against that of section four.

Clydebank's rivals Yoker also have selection problems for their Holm Park contest against Glasgow Perthshire, with four players - John Harvey, Frank McMonagle, David Crerand and Gary Bissland - serving bans.

Benburb pair Richard ­Lovering and Steven McGurgan are likewise sidelined for their side's opener at home to Arthurlie, which is made harder by the game going ahead at Dunterlie while the Govan club's new stadium is being built.

There are no such player problems for last season's beaten finalists Pollok, whose manager Tony McInally welcomes back Willie Howie , Graham McLaren and Michael McGhee for the visit of a Neilston side desperate to atone for their last trip to Newlandsfield which saw them get a 7-1 going over in the Evening Times Champions Cup final from Auchinleck Talbot.

Blantyre Vics have a stopper crisis for their Castle Park encounter against Rutherglen Glencairn with Terry Hewitt and newcomer Lee McShane sidelined by suspension on top of Brian McLaughlin and Kyle Lochhead being away.

Vics gaffer David Greig said: "We are up against it facing a Glens team who finished the season like a house on fire and have now added Steven McLung to an already decent forward line, but there's nothing we can do other than get on with it "

Shettleston have signed experienced keeper Bryn Halliwell from Sauchie Juniors and he will be between the posts when the Town take on city rivals St Roch's at the James McGrory Stadium.

Cumbernauld United gaffer John Queen has fixed up midfielder Kevin Finlayson for a second time ahead of United hosting the visit of Rossvale in their Section Eight head-to-head.

And whispers reckon Central Second Division outfit Cambuslang Rangers are on the verge of an audacious bid to land former Junior Scotland and Linlithgow Rose frontman Gordon Herd who featured as a trialist in a recent Wee Gers friendly.