MARTIN Lauchlan insists it is an honour for him and his Rossvale players to be lining up in the Evening Times League Champions' Cup today.

The Bishopbriggs club's achievement in romping away with the Stagecoach Central Second Division crown has earned them a preliminary round tie away to Ayrshire District kingpins Ardrossan Winton Rovers, and neither the trek down the coast nor his side's lack of competitive action is preventing him enthusing over the Winton Park contest.

The 35-year-old said: "It was an incredible feeling for everyone connected with the club to win our first trophy in the Juniors and to now take part in the Evening Times competition is just the icing on the cake.

"The players have enjoyed a great season, but I'm always reminding them that they should always be striving to do better so a win against Ardrossan would certainly have people sitting up and taking notice of us.

"Things going our way would open the door for a crack at the game's real big guns, though watching Ardrossan deservedly beat Auchinleck last Saturday had me thinking they might come into that category before too long.

"It's a huge ask, particularly as a few of our regulars are set to be posted missing, but the fact Rossvale might be waiting years to be in the Evening Times again has everyone fired up and looking forward to the game.

"Our title success has brought a great togetherness and shared spirit throughout the club and I reckon you will see a healthy support going down to cheer us on."

Three weeks have passed since Rossvale last played competitively so Locky arranged a midweek friendly match against Johnstone Burgh Under-21s which the Juniors won by a 2-1 scoreline through a scoring brace from Fraser Team.

The gaffer admitted: "It's not ideal having so long between games and we showed signs of having took the foot of the accelerator, but the work-out was a worthwhile exercise in terms of getting some of the rustiness out of our system. Hopefully the players will show the benefit today and do themselves proud."

Tonight sees Rossvale staging their Player of the Year Dance and Locky is urging his troops to be on a high for the showpiece occasion.

He added: "Yami Misango, Rhys Donaldson and skipper Ross Hepburn have been mainstays, but so many other guys have stepped up to the mark that I cannot choose between them.

"What I do know is that Robbie Winters will be coming along to collect his top goalscorer award which speaks volumes about his regard for his former team-mates and it would be great if we could be celebrating the prospect of a potential semi-final tilt against him and his Pollok team."

TODAY 2.0 kick-offs

Evening Times Champions Cup preliminary round: Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Rossvale.

Stagecoach Super Premier: Arthurlie v Glenafton, Clydebank v Auchinleck Talbot, Hurlford v Petershill.

Super First: Cumbernauld v Largs, Irvine Vics v Pollok, Maybole v Shettleston.

Central District First: Benburb v Wishaw, Blantyre Vics v Larkhall, Lanark v Bellshill, Lesmahagow v Dunipace, Maryhill v Renfrew.

Central District Second: Johnstone Burgh v Royal Albert.

Ayrshire District: Kello v Muirkirk.