WILLIE HARVEY is looking for his Rutherglen Glencairn players to come out with all guns blazing when they take on Shettleston this afternoon in the Super First Division match of the day.

The Glens make the short hop to Greenfield Park sitting second top of the standings and team boss Harvey is hoping his unbeaten side can secure their fourth league win in five starts.

The one-time keeper makes no secret of the fact he is eyeing top spot with his side set to host current frontrunners Pollok next weekend.

He said: "What the guys have achieved so far is remarkable given that we thought it would take us more time to get up and running because of injuries and unavailability of players.

"We have recorded three wins and a draw but I maintain there is more to come as we've really only played in fits and starts if truth be told.

"Yet our overall displays have been good enough to pick up the points and that in itself is very encouraging."

Last season Glens made a poor start and had only taken six points by Christmas.

But after signing keeper John Hutchison from Forth Wanderers they won nine out of their last 12 games to finish in a mid-table spot.

Harvey said: "Seven clean sheets were the basis of that run. A lot of the credit for that had to go to the performances of Hutch and guys like Mark Bishop in front of him.

"Those two have picked up where they left off and are still playing out of their skins.

"Helping to make us even more difficult to break down is young Mark Russell, whose game has come on in leaps and bounds playing alongside Bish.

"This is a case of us finally getting our man because we'd tried to get Mark when he was at Knightswood Amateurs.

"He opted to join Clydebank instead but things didn't work out for him there.

"But he has been superb at the heart of our defence."

THE Glencairn back line could become an even tougher nut to crack once defender Steven Lowe makes a full recovery from breaking two bones in his hand.

The summer signing from Thorniewood United suffered the freak injury while playing with his kids on holiday.

His boss revealed: "Steven played in a midweek friendly against Wishaw and is in our thoughts for the Shettleston match but it might be a risk to throw him straight into a game as important as this."

Harvey ran the rule over Shettleston last weekend in their 2-1 Scottish Cup victory over Ardeer Thistle. And he believes they will be one of the teams in this season's Super First promotion mix.

He said: "Hugh Kelly has signed some quality players.

"They were too strong and streetwise for Ardeer despite playing most of the game with 10 men. If Shug can get his best players on the pitch Shettleston will be title contenders.

"Going up against them will be a good marker for us. We'll need to be sharp up front as they give very little away.

"Luckily our strikers Steven McClung, Jim Gilmartin and Thomas Kilmartin have linked up well in recent matches."

WITH former Hearts kid Dennis McLaughlin also now close to full fitness, Glencairn have an array of riches in forward areas.

That's led to limited playing time for skilful frontman Jamie "Messi" McLeod, who has been placed on the open-to-transfer list at his own request.

Shettleston, meanwhile, will give late fitness tests to key midfielder Brian McEwan and forwards Ryan Scott and Kyle Robertson.

Town boss Kelly said: "Scott, Kyle and Ryan McCrone have given us great thrust in the final third. They will be given every chance to be passed fit.

"I watched Glencairn against Wishaw in midweek but didn't learn much because Willie gave his fringe players a run-out.

"But they're an in-form side and we'll have to play some to get anything out of the game."

In other Super First contests, Pollok will welcome Neilston, who tend to raise their game against the Southsiders.

A cracking derby is in store at Guy's Meadow as tenants Rob Roy take on their landlords Cumbernauld United. And the bottom sides meet as Kilsyth Rangers welcome Largs.

The Junior ranks have had their third managerial casualty in under a fortnight after Billy Thomson resigned at Girvan, who are currently bottom of the Ayrshire District Division.