JAMES MARKS has lavished praise on Bryan Slavin ahead of the newly-installed Largs Thistle team boss taking dugout charge in his first home game against Cumbernauld United - a vital Super First Division clash switched to Barrfields earlier this week because of doubts over whether Guys Meadow would be deemed playable tomorrow.

A fortnight ago, Slavers got his managerial tenure away to a winning start with a 3-2 victory away to Ardeer Thistle in which Marks netted twice and the striker is convinced there are further good times to come under the tutelage of the former Auchinleck Talbot skipper and his sidekick Stuart "Arnie" Davidson.

The 31-year-old said: "It's difficult to believe only two weeks have passed since two guys of their calibre came on board because of the amazing difference they have brought in such a short space of time.

"Our training tempo has really stepped up as most of us expected but now everything we do is ultra-competitive with Bryan insisting the only way to be winners as players is to try and be the best and first past the post in every exercise we do.

"And I don't know if it's a Tucker Sloan blueprint or one passed down through Talbot generations but both Bryan and Arnie have taken to hammering home the message that we as players have to be focused on what it's going to take to win Saturday's game from the minute we finish training on a Wednesday night.

"Their motivation is more intense than anything I've ever come across but in many respects I would have loved to play under them earlier in my playing career.

"It's early days but you cannot help but feel the work ethic and attitude they instil in players will see them go to the very top of the Junior tree and I just hope their aims are achieved with Largs Thistle."

The Seasiders sit second bottom of the standings as a result of winning only two of their previous 12 league games prior to Slavin taking over the helm and Marks acknowledges he and his team-mates face are immersed in a battle for survival as they strive to avoid the ignominy of back to back relegation seasons.

They took the tumble from the Super Premier Division top flight on the same 19 points mark as Pollok but have continued their freefall from grace whereas the Newlandsfield outfit are looking strong favourites to bounce back up at the first time of asking ... and as Super First champions at that.

James revealed: "Hopes were high of us going back up under our previous team boss Sandy McLean, but circumstances led to him entrusting a lot of faith in young players, many from Greenock Morton's youth team, and unfortunately a lot of points were shipped when these guys were adjusting to the Juniors.

"Dressing room confidence took a huge dent and the place was on a downer until the appointment of Bryan and Arnie acted like a breath of fresh air and you can sense everyone in the camp is united and looking forward to taking on Cumbernauld.

"It's a tough gig as they are regarded as one of the better sides but only a six-points margin separate us in the table and it would provide a massive lift if we were able to take the spoils at Barrfields."

The player nicknamed Slick went on to reveal how he handled the delicate poser of how to address Slavers.

He said: "Only myself and Alan Muir are of an age to have come up against Bryan and Arnie in their prime so I was unsure of whether to call him gaffer or boss or just Bryan, however he made it easy by saying he didn't put a lot of store in a title so I could call him anything.

"It's maybe just as well he never heard what I used to call him when he used to lay me out with crunching tackles in his heyday at Talbot."

Sectional League Cup winners Cumbernauld's early-season promise has all but come undone through one of the worst run of postponements suffered by any West Region club - they haven't managed a game in 2015 and last played competitively in a 3-2 defeat by Thorniewood United on the December 20.

United team boss John Queen summed up his predicament in saying: "I haven't the foggiest what to expect from my own players after eight weeks out but I do expect Largs to be in our faces and playing at a high temp from the first whistle."

The absence of experienced midfielder Simon Elles - looking like he might be out for the season - has opened the door for Partick Thistle loan signing Blair Malcolm who is in Queeny's thoughts for the Ayrshire showdown.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup. Fifth Round (2.15pm): Auchinleck Talbot v Bonnyrigg Rose, Fauldhouse Utd v Musselburgh Athletic.

Scottish Junior Cup. Fourth Round (2.15pm): Arthurlie v Rob Roy, Pollok v Cumnock, Clydebank v Shettleston, Hurlford Utd v Bo'ness Utd, Camelon v Troon, Newtongrange Star v Blantyre Vics, Lesmahagow v Johnstone Burgh.

Stagecoach League Super Premier Division: Kilbirnie Ladeside v Glenafton, Petershill v Irvine Meadow, Shotts Bon Accord v Beith.

Stagecoach League Super First Division: Greenock v Ardeer Thistle, Kilsyth Rangers v Rutherglen Glencairn, Maybole v Yoker, Cumbernauld Utd v Largs Thistle, Irvine Vics v Neilston.

Stagecoach League Central First Division: Benburb v Carluke Rovers, Wishaw v St Anthony's, Lanark Utd v Ashfield, Renfrew v Larkhall Thistle, Dunipace v Vale of Clyde, Bellshill Athletic v Maryhill.

Stagecoach League Central Second Division: Cambuslang Rangers v Rossvale, St Roch's v Glasgow Perthshire, Newmains Utd v Port Glasgow, East Kilbride Thistle v Forth, Royal Albert v Vale of Leven.

Stagecoach League Ayrshire District: Kilwinning Rangers v Lugar Boswell, Kello Rovers v Whitletts Vics, Girvan v Dalry Thistle, Annbank Utd v Darvel, Craigmark v Winton Rovers.