THE closest that Paul Gallagher had come to Junior football before this season was rubbing shoulders with Jamie Longworth, Michael Keenan, Neil Parry and Davie Anderson in a Queen's Park dressing room.

But now the 23-year-old defender finds himself just five days away from making his competitive debut at the heart of Pollok's defence when Neilston visit Newlandsfield for a Euroscot Eng League Cup opener ... and he is itching to get started.

Gallagher played for both Celtic and Hibs at youth level before moving to the Spiders, where he progressed during a five-year playing stint into establishing himself as a first-team regular under Gardner Speirs. So his decision to join Pollok came as a surprise to many at Hampden Park.

He revealed: "Queen's are a great club but are going through a transitional period and didn't enjoy the best of times last season which, on top of Gus MacPherson replacing Gardner as manager and a whole raft of players coming and going, were all factors that made my mind up to look for a new challenge.

"I've come up against a number of Junior clubs turning out for Queen's in various friendlies down the years as well as playing in a 2012 Scottish Cup tie against Irvine Meadow, so I was well aware of what I was letting myself in for by opting to play at this level.

"It's extremely competitive, but there's not a huge difference in football standards other than the fact Junior players tend to try to close defenders down even when they are in possession deep in their own half.

"I would think the very fact Gus has snapped up seven or more Junior players in putting together his new Queen's Park squad only adds credence to this opinion and I've no doubt many of the top teams at this level would have no difficulty holding their own in the lower senior leagues."

Trainee accountant Paul hails from Newton Mearns and did not hesitate when Lok boss Tony McInally made a signing approach.

He said: "I had read and heard enough about Pollok to realise they are a huge name on the Junior scene as well as one of the best-supported clubs, so putting pen to paper was not a difficult call to make, though I did telephone Davie Anderson for a bit of advice

"He told me to go for it and the move has worked out even better than expected as pre-season training routines under Tony and his staff has been hard work but thoroughly enjoyable. I've also been hugely impressed by the quality of players at the club.

"Carlo Monti is someone I knew beforehand but there are plenty of other guys of similar standard, which has me thinking Pollok will be in the running for silverware over the coming season."

Six-foot-plus Gallagher's defensive versatility saw him used in a variety of backline positions at Queen's. However, his physical prowess could result in him holding down the problematic Lok stopper role.

HE looked out of sorts starting as a holding midfielder in last weekend's friendly against Beith but emerged as a commanding and inspirational figure following an interval switch to central defence.

"I'll play wherever Tony chooses but I would certainly like a run of games in the centre-half position. The movement and pace of Beith's nippy forwards gave us a lot of problems early doors, but Tony pointed out where we were going wrong and the response to him tweaking things was a clean sheet in the second half. There's plenty of work still to do, but I'd like to think we can improve even more as a unit with a few more games under our belt."

Another defender in the limelight is former Airdrie stopper Michael O'Byrne, who was loaned out to Stirling Albion for part of last season and has recently figured as a trialist for Auchinleck Talbot and Linlithgow Rose.

SATURDAY 2pm kick-offs

Euroscot Eng League Cup. Section 1: Larkhall v Lanark, Lesmahagow v Royal Albert (John Cumming Stadium).

Section 2: Newmains v Carluke Rovers, Forth v Wishaw.

Section 3: Petershill v Bellshill, St Roch's v Shettleston.

Section 4: Blantyre Vics v Glencairn, Vale of Clyde v East Kilbride.

Section 5: Benburb v Arthurlie (Dunterlie Park), Pollok v Neilston.

Section 6: Maryhill v Clydebank, Yoker v Perthshire.

Section 7: Greenock v Johnstone Burgh, Renfrew v Port Glasgow (Port Glasgow).

Section 8: Cumbernauld v Rossvale, Dunipace v Kilsyth.

Ardagh Glass League Cup. Section 1: Ardrossan v Kilwinning, Beith v Largs, Dalry v Kilbirnie.

Section 2: Ardeer v Irvine Vics, Hurlford v Saltcoats, Irvine Meadow XI v Darvel.

Section 3: Girvan v Whitletts, Maybole v Annbank, Troon v Craigmark.

Section 4: Auchinleck v Lugar, Glenafton v Cumnock, Muirkirk v Kello.