Cumnock take on Kilbirnie Ladeside tomorrow in a Super Premier basement showdown that could seriously determine who will be in a relegation dogfight at the end of the season.

So says Townhead Park boss John McKeown who is confident there are good times ahead for the Ayrshire giants after his playing charges kicked off 2015 with a 3-2 defeat of fierce rivals Glenafton that has lifted them clear of the relegation drop zone.

And he is well aware that racking up another victory to extend fourth-from-bottom Nock's winning run to three league games would crucially open up a four-point gap on the third-bottom placed Blasties who have played two games fewer.

The Nock gaffer said: "You cannot label tomorrow as a sudden-death affair, but it is a game that both teams must look to win.

"So there is every likelihood of the 90 minutes being played out in a cup tie type atmosphere .

"Our recent revival has been encouraging and has acted as a shot in the arm for players and supporters alike however keeping our upward momentum going is a tough challenge in this Division where there is precious little to choose between the vast majority of teams.

"Indeed if you remove Irvine Meadow, Auchinleck and Hurlford United from the equation, then every team is aiming to finish outwith the bottom three places."

McKeown's avowed determination to deliver improvements on the playing front has seen him conversely wield the axe and lay out the welcome mat in the Cumnock dressing room with six players offloaded and replaced by the same number of newcomers in the three months since he took up the managerial reins.

And only this week, a further attempt to boost playing resources with the acquisition of bustling Albion Rovers frontman Chris Dallas ended in disappointment when the much sought after 27 year old spurned Cumnock's contract offer.

McKeown added: "Chris has a physicality about him that we would like on board.

"He's been on our radar ever since his Rovers manager Darren Young decided to recall him from an impressive loan spell at Arthurlie.

"We were not alone in this respect as Irvine Meadow and Glenafton were likewise on his case.

"But Chris agreeing to train with us this week raised our hopes that a deal might be in the offing.

"He mixed well with the guys and listened to what we had to say afterwards, but did not commit himself and was honest enough to admit to be leaning towards a return to Arthurlie where he had enjoyed playing under Craig McEwan .

"Barring any last-minute hitches I would reckon he will be their player before kick-off time tomorrow and we have no option other than to intensify efforts to try and land our other signing targets."

The former Stenhousemuir and Dumbarton stopper went on to deride circulating stories linking Nock striker Robert Love with a move to derby foes Auchinleck Talbot .

He said: "Robert is in a rich vein of form and has played outstandingly well in our last couple of outings so he is integral to our plans for the forthcoming Kilbirnie and Pollok games.

"Take it as read that he is going nowhere and most certainly not to Auchinleck unless this club has adopted a policy of making our biggest rivals stronger by selling them our best players."