Defiant gaffer Macca has come out fighting in defence of his team, who currently sit joint bottom of the table without a top-flight victory to their name.
Bracketed along with them in the basement are Glenafton, who were promoted alongside Shotts last season.
A three-point gap has opened between the Lanarkshire outfit and the other clubs hovering around the trapdoor as they prepare to host the visit of title challengers Petershill on Saturday.
Macca, however, is adamant his players will prove themselves up to the test. He said: "It's ridiculous for anyone to be dubbing us as potential relegation candidates on the basis of our results to date.
"Were it not for missing penalty kicks at vital times against Irvine Meadow and Glenafton, we would probably be three points better off and sitting at the heart of the basement pack with games in hand on everyone around us.
"What should not be forgotten is the hangover – physical and mental – that my players were suffering as a result of our fixture congestion towards the end of last season.
"It's only in the last few weeks that we've stepped up our training routines to have the guys looking sharper.
"You can sense the players are ready to go again and I think our season starts now."
The Shotts boss is delighted at the impact made by new signing Kenny Wright, who marked his debut with a couple of goals in the 4-0 Emirates Junior Cup triumph over Haddington Athletic last weekend.
Shotts had kept on the hitman's trail during stints at Motherwell, Stranraer, Albion Rovers, Forth and, latterly, Carluke.
He said: "It's been a hard slog to get our man, but the chase will be well worthwhile if Kenny continues in the scoring vein he showed at Haddington.
Another surprise newcomer on show for Shotts in the east was last season's Emirates Cup-winning skipper John Boyack, who supporters will recall had moved to Belgium in the summer.
Macca revealed: "John's work has him Brussels based Monday-Thursday, but his family are still living in Edinburgh so he is back home every weekend.
"He decided to come along to watch our games and was the answer to my prayers when a number of the guys were ruled out.
"He was influential and the team had a better balanced look about it with him pulling the strings in midfield.
"So I'd like to think we haven't seen the last of him in a Shotts jersey."
Meanwhile, Shotts stopper David Gray has rejoined Carluke Rovers as part of the transfer deal for striker Wright, while versatile Brian Jack has moved to Larkhall Thistle.
