Larkhall Thistle boss Dunky Sinclair hopes a summer of change will bring a third-time Euroscot Eng Sectional Cup victory over Lesmahagow today.

Matters couldn't be closer atop the Section One pile going into today's final games, with Larkie and the Gow locked on six points each with the same number of goals scored and conceded.

Their unique situation as they battle for the right to host the visit of Cumbernauld United in Wednesday night's quarter-finals made both clubs ask for today's game to be played to a finish.

But West Region chiefs instead ordained a Monday night replay should the Gasworks Park encounter finish all square.

Said Sinky: "It seems a bit unfair to ask supporters to troop out on Monday if the game is drawn and then again on Wednesday to face Cumbernauld.

"And it's absolutely crazy from a playing perspective to cram in three games in five days prior to the vitally important Central First Division league campaign getting underway next Saturday.

"Gow boss Robert Irving and I both harbour thoughts about figuring in the promotion stakes and this hectic fixture schedule is doing none of us any favours."

Sinky and Irving were team-mates at Lesmahagow, Cumnock and Lanark United and have kept in touch before today's contest which goes ahead at Gasworks Park because of drainage work at the Gow's Craighead Park.

Sinky insisted: "I'd like to think we are in better shape than ever before with the 15 players signed back on again from last season's squad boosted by a number of youthful prospects like James Durris, Matty Clark, Ryan Innes and the Scottish Amateur caps David Reid and Scott Nicoll.

"Our only major departure of any note was goalkeeper Davie McEwan.

"He has since been replaced by experienced No.1 Alan Colquhoun and we have also fixed up Ian Cook from Lanark United and centre-back Neil Schoneville from Yoker.

"We are looking strong and well-organised so hopefully we can get our long-overdue win against Rab's side who it has to be said have enjoyed a rub of the green against us in recent years."

He joked: "I've had about 11 years of carrying Rab in the midfield at various clubs so he owes me one big style."

Irving countered by claiming Sinky's Junior career would not have been so illustrious without the crosses he put onto his head.

And he is confident his newcomers will rise to the occasion.

He said: "The real breath of fresh air has come from Craig Young who previously coached East Kilbride's Lowland League team and has come in to help me on the back-room side.

"He brought with him EK's central defensive pairing of David McAuliffe and Ross Moore to give us a bit of steel at the back …

"Ourselves and Larkhall have made a number of closed-season changes so it will be intriguing to see whether Sinky or I have the most surprises up our sleeve."

The last Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup quarter-finalist will be decided by today's meeting of Port Glasgow and Greenock at Keanie Park in Johnstone.

A win or draw will see Port Glasgow secure a last-eight battle with Thorniewood United.

The quarter-final contests for this coming Wednesday night all kick off at 6.30pm, with Wishaw v Clydebank and Arthurlie v Blantyre Vics being the other fixtures.

In the Ardagh Glass Cup in Ayrshire only Kilbirnie Ladeside, Irvine Meadow , Maybole and Auchinleck Talbot have secured last-eight places. Games today and Monday night will decide their next opponents.

Meanwhile, Shettleston's signing Bryn Halliwell has gone on loan to Hearts to ease their goalkeeping crisis, turning out with Hearts midweek and for Shettleston at the weekends.