STEWART MAXWELL cannot imagine his life without football ...

and he admits to being hungrier to win silverware since assuming the Rob Roy manager's job.

Realistically, his last opportunity of a trophy rests on the Rabs going all the way in the Euroscot Eng Central League Cup, which gets underway tomorrow, however Maxi and his players are heading through to face Johnstone Burgh despite being drawn at home when the second-round pairings were made.

He revealed: "We ground-share with Cumbernauld United, who were also first out of the hat which meant there was every likelihood we would be sitting idle, so it was an easy decision to concede ground advantage to the Burgh.

"Admittedly, it adds several degrees of difficulty to our hopes of enjoying a cup run, however the players are in a confident frame of mind on the back of an unbeaten eight-game run (over 90 minutes) and they are not running scared of a trip to Keanie Park.

"We might be in for a sticky time of it as the Burgh - one of my former sides - are figuring in the Second Division promotion battle and they knocked Largs out of the Scottish Cup, so you can bet their players will be wanting to have our scalp hanging from their belts as well.

"Their pitch is notoriously heavy and might make for a scrappy affair, which might have had me concerned but for us having the ideal preparation in winning 1-0 at Neilston last weekend on a surface not conducive to playing good football.

"Earlier in the season we would have struggled to adapt our game, however the guys rolled up their sleeves and relished the battle, so you might say we scrapped out the victory.

"More of the same might be required at Keanie tomorrow, so it's encouraging to know we have it in the locker if need be."

Maxi and No.2 Paul Ronald have worked overtime to boost playing numbers in recent weeks as they gear their Kirkintilloch side up for a daunting Super First Division run-in.

He added: "We are handily placed in third-top place, and you would have to think Maybole, Kilsyth, Shettleston, Cumbernauld and us will all figure in the race to see who goes up alongside Pollok

"Paul and I wanted to cover all the bases in the event of being tasked to play three games per week once the light nights are here, so we brought in two very promising Queen's Park youngsters in Thomas Collins and Lee Davidson, while we have signed Irvine Meadow attacking midfielder Josh Flood, who was previously with Albion Rovers.

"Josh is desperate to be playing more regularly after being out of the picture at Medda, and he will certainly get the platform to parade his skills here as we see him as an ideal replacement for Ally Martin, who broke four ribs in our Scottish Cup-tie against Arthurlie.

"Chances are Ally may well not play again this season, while our regular flank pick on the opposite side of the park, Chris Duff, is struggling to shake off ankle ligament damage, so it looks like one of the young lads will get a chance to impress."

Maxi also revealed his squad suffered another injury blow with experienced goalkeeper Johnny Murdoch (a Junior Cup winner with Shotts), looking like missing the rest of the season.

The gaffer insisted: "Johnny's was an innocuous knock on the training ground, yet he could be contemplating a six-week absence, but we have every faith in young Jordan Brown, whose clean sheet against Neilston will have lifted his spirits."

Meanwhile, Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United will be keen to avoid each other in the Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup semi-final draw taking place at the Scotland training camp of Mar Hall later today.

The prospect of an all-Ayrshire final - most probably staged at Rugby Park - between record 10-times winners Talbot and holders United has all the makings of a showpiece classic, although Musselburgh Athletic and Linlithgow Rose will feel they could also make for a memorable occasion.

Hurlford boss Darren Henderson denied he had preferred opponents in mind, saying: "I don't believe there are some draws easier than others when you are talking about the Scottish Cup semi-finalists, so we will see what the draw presents us with," he said

"Our players have already achieved their objective of making a good defence of the trophy and deserve every credit going." PLAYING TOMORROW

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup second round: Vale of Leven v Arthurlie, Greenock v Yoker.

Euroscot Eng Central League Cup first round: Cumbernauld v East Kilbride, Port Glasgow v Blantyre Vics, Rossvale v Pollok, Maryhill v Neilston, Glencairn v Clydebank. Second round: Ashfield v Shettleston, St Anthony's v St Roch's, Carluke v Newmains, Cambuslang v Wishaw, Benburb v Perthshire, Rob Roy v Johnstone Burgh (at Keanie Park).

Ayrshire Cup first round: Kilwinning v Darvel, Craigmark v Kilbirnie. Second round: Kello v Ardeer, Winton Rovers v Lugar, Troon v Whitletts, Muirkirk v Annbank, Auchinleck v Irvine Meadow, Hurlford v Girvan.

Stagecoach Super Premier: Beith v Cumnock.

Super First: Kilsyth v Maybole, Irvine Vics v Largs.

Central First: Lesmahagow v Bellshill, Dunipace v Renfrew.