Paul Maxwell has spent this week looking on from the outside as Irvine Meadow prepare for a sequence of games that will make or break their Super Premier title hopes.

An alarming dip in form resulting in the long-time league leaders earning just one point from a possible nine has left Stevie Rankin's men contemplating the prospect of winning all their six remaining top flight matches - starting at home to Cumnock tomorrow - to stand any chance of finishing top of the pile in May.

And highly-regarded striker Maxi, on the road to recovery following knee surgery to repair cartilage and ligament damage that has sidelined him since an early season Ardagh Glass Cup encounter against Kilbirnie Ladeside, does not think the task facing his team-mates is bordering on the impossible.

Speaking as someone who relishes a battle, he said "We had a frank dressing room exchange of views after recently coming a cropper against Clydebank and every player to a man agreed it's still there for us if we get back to playing as we can..

"And why not when you take into account the fact we still have to meet our closest title challengers Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United on top of those two having to square up to each other .

"All things considered, you cannot help but reckon there will be a lot of twists and turns before anything is decided for certain and I truly believe we can do it but only if we avoid further slip ups in our remaining half dozen games.

"You would have to say anything less than six of the best and it's curtains!"

Maxi has good reason for wanting Medda to get their run-in away to the best possible start with a victory over Cumnock as the Irvine outfit's Social Club is hosting a fund raising event to help offset the costs of his knee surgery on Saturday night.

He said: " aking the three points on offer doubtless see everyone in good spirits - including myself - even though I'm still reduced to being nothing more than a spectator at our games.

"Hopefully my comeback is not too far away now that I'm running strongly as well as being allowed to kick a ball at our training sessions.

"My revised target is to get back into the thick of things by the end of March.

"I'll be guided by our physio on that decision as the last thing I want is to rush my recovery and suffer a relapse after the blood, sweat and tears of the past six months and not least of all the fantastic backing received from everyone connected with the club.

" I'd love to repay them by pulling on a strip again and knocking in a few goals ."

Medda boss Stevie Rankin was not for revealing his playing hand, however Willie Sawyers and Chris Hall could be asked to form a twin attacking spearhead after both strikers were on the scoresheet in last weekend's 6-1 hammering of Craigmark.

Relegation-threatened Cumnock come into the game in confident mood after battling back from a 2-0 deficit in last Saturday's clash with Clydebank to earn a share of the spoils through Robert Love and Chris McKnight(pen) goals.

But their hard-earned point came at a price with Kieron Downs and Ryan Kennedy picking up injuries that look set to sideline them at Meadow Park.

Nock boss John McKeown admitted last night , "It's looking bleak for both guys at this stage so I would rate their chances of being passed fit at 50/50 at best while we also have another couple of worrying concerns that are preventing us preparing tactically for facing Irvine Meadow.

"We know how we want to play and it would help having the players to implement our game plan."

In other vital basement contests , bottom markers Clydebank host the visit of third from bottom Kilbirnie Ladeside in what has the makings of a "must-win " clash for both clubs while second bottom Shotts Bon Accord may unveil latest recruit Kieron Donnelly (Albion Rovers) and also blood another new signing for their daunting trip into the Ayrshire heartlands to face title challenging Auchinleck Talbot.

Visiting gaffer Tam McDonald said: "I spent close on 15 years at Auchinleck and know better than most what to expect so I'll be urging my players to enjoy the experience."