Mark Cameron is confident Arthurlie's players will recover from manager Gavin Duncan's shock midweek resignation to overcome Scottish Junior Cup opponents Hall Russell today.

The bombshell news from fans' favourite Duncan came as a devastating blow to the Barrhead dressing room and left Branco and goalkeeping coach Billy Peacock to look after the team for the Dunterlie clash with the North Region side.

The interim gaffer said: "Not a lot has changed in the short term as Gavin was always going to be posted missing for this game for family reasons - and those same commitments are behind his quit decision.

"It's been a very amicable parting of the ways, however the players are understandably gutted, more so because Billy and I have stated our intention not to hang around for longer than it takes for club officials to appoint a new boss.

"The circumstances make it right for Lie to make a fresh start with a new man at the helm and new backroom team."

Terracing whispers reckon the previous Barrhead experiences of Derek Cook and Derek McCulloch make them early frontrunners along with Wishaw chief John McKeown and ex-Thorniewood United boss Kieron McGuinness.

In other Scottish Cup ties, Petershill will be minus their suspended playmaker Tony Stevenson for what has all the makings of a stiff test away to North Region league leaders Hermes, while another West Region hopeful facing a long trek north, Clydebank, would appear to have it considerably easier in facing the Second Division outfit Colony Park.

Nearer home, Irvine Meadow boosted their playing hand for their visit to Cambuslang Rangers by snapping up former Stirling Albion wide player Josh Flood, who had previously impressed turning out in the Ayrshire club's pre-season friendly matches.

Medda boss Stevie Rankin said: "Josh will come straight into my thoughts for a role against Cambuslang as we may be crying out for width if they sit in and play it tight like they did in our pre-season clash.

"That game was only decided by Willie Sawyers' 94th-minute strike. John Doyle and Paddy Flannery know how to organise their players to frustrate us.

"Doyly, of course, has inside knowledge of Willie and Mark Sideserf, who played under him at Harmony Row, as well as our Roberto Halliday, whom he also coached at Clyde."

Suspension rules out Medda full-back Mark McLennan while the cup clash may come too soon for stopper Grant Evans, who only restarted training this week.

That means a defensive role looks likely to be found for Michael Keenan, who served up a solid display deputising for McLennan in a recent victory over Clydebank.

An intriguing showdown is promised at Beltane Park, where previously high-flying Wishaw have a tough nut to crack in Sauchie Juniors as John McKeown's men look to stop the rot following three consecutive defeats at the hands of Benburb, Bellshill Athletic and Blantyre Vics.

New signing Barry McGowan looks set to bolster a Wishy midfield badly missing the injured Kieron Downs while, further forward, Jason Thomson is battling to be passed fit.

The undoubted pick among a scattering of Stagecoach League matches taking place today is the Beechwood Park showdown between Ayrshire derby rivals Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock.

Talbot's 100% start to the season has put the reigning Super Premier Division champions atop the pile and only adds to the pressure on Nock manager Brian McLuckie.

He clearly has his work cut out with Cumnock sitting in third-bottom spot and without a league win to their name this season, yet the optimist in him insists there is no better game to try to turn their season round than a head-to-head with arch foes Talbot.

He said: "Anyone who saw our opening two league games would surely testify that we deserved better than 0-0 draws and our last outing was a 5-1 defeat by Kilbirnie that, on another day, could easily have ended up 5-5 but for their goalkeeper Chris Fahey putting up the shutters.

"We played well despite having six players unavailable for that game. Chances are most will be back in the reckoning for jerseys in what is sure to be a massive test of character against an Auchinleck side who've already beaten us 2-0 at their place in the Ardagh Cup

"But if we can get the same rub of the green as other teams have been getting against us then I've every faith my players can step up to the mark and prove they do not deserve to be written off as no-hopers."

Meanwhile, Pollok have confirmed the signing of 25-year-old former Clyde midfielder Giuseppe Capuano, who had been reinstated to play as a trialist in the Southside club's last three outings.

Lok boss Tony McInally said: "Giuseppe isn't a showy player but is very effective in what he does for the team. I'm delighted that a deal is done and dusted to make him our player."