Kevin McDonald has warned his Beith team-mates about the importance of keeping a clean sheet when they make the short hop through for a Super Premier Division derby clash against bitter rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside today.

Both sides have been shipping goals at an alarming rate - Kilbirnie's is the worst goals against column among the top flight clubs with 19 conceded to date.

Beith have only lost two goals fewer, although Mighty fans can point to a damaging 8-2 defeat in their opening fixture away to Auchinleck Talbot as a contributing factor.

And experienced cornerstone McDonald is under no illusions about just how difficult it will be to shut up shop in the Valefield showdown given that he only called time on a two- year Blasties playing stint in the summer.

He said: "There's no disguising the fact we could have done a lot better defensively in a lot of our games this season and the stats are disappointing.

"But it's not all doom and gloom because there are signs of us getting our act together.

"The fact we racked up only our second clean sheet in the league by beating Cumnock 1-0 last weekend has boosted confidence and given us something to build upon so everyone is looking forward to the Kilbirnie match.

"I have no doubts, though, that Kilbirnie will pose us a whole set of different problems as I have nothing but admiration for their forward going players.

"The physicality of Ian Diack paired with the workrate of my old Irvine Meadow team-mate Richie Barr will need careful watching as will Kilbirnie's young protégé Graham Boyd who burst onto the scene by scoring twice when they beat us 3-2 in the Ardagh Glass Cup sectional stages.

"But what's an even bigger threat is the likes of Chris Craig and Ryan Borris coming from deeper lying positions, so keeping them quiet is a must if we want to come away with the points."

A back injury sidelined McDonald sidelined for the Aragh Cup occasion, however he believes there is no chance of Beith taking their eye of the ball for a second time this season.

He recalled: "We were 2-0 to the good and coasting, but paid the price for thinking the game was won. You just cannot afford to do that in derby games and Kilbirnie's players took inspiration from pulling a goal back and they battered us over the closing stages to equalise before bagging a late winner.

"I'd love to help avenge that defeat going back to Valefield, but deep down I know we face a tough time of it."

An intriguing contest is on the cards at Beechwood Park where a locking of horns takes place between two teams to suffer bad defeats last weekend - Auchinleck Talbot and Petershill.

Bot boss Tommy Sloan may be tempted to recall striker David Gormley after his side fired blanks in losing 1-0 to Arthurlie while a similar dilemma confronts Peasy boss Willie Patterson over whether to introduce tried and trusted hitman Stephen McGladrigan in the wake of his side's 1-0 reverse at Irvine Meadow.

League leaders Medda are fancied to come out on top against Cumnock at Townhead Park. However, starting places may be found for Willie Sawyers and Ryan Deas whose introduction as substitutes last week made a crucial difference."

An early season 'winner- takesall' contest is on the cards at Holm Park where Super Premier basement markers Clydebank await the visit of fourth- from-bottom Shotts Bon Accord knowing victory would take them above the Lanarkshire outfit in the standings.

Bankies No 2 Stuart Allison admits they face a selection headache with central defensive pair Graham Mort and A Irvine rated non-starters .

He said: "The guys served up a decent performance to beat Rob Roy 2-0 in a midweek friendly and the same commitment is needed against Shotts.

"It's a game we have to be looking to win not least for the confidence lift it would give everyone so we will not be holding anything back.

"Phil Barclay is in line for his home debut and big Ross Harvie is in our thoughts for a forward line place."