PAUL GALLAGHER will pull on his Pollok strip to lift the Stagecoach Super First Division trophy after today's Newlandsfield clash with Maybole.

The 23-year-old central defender has been a key figure in Lok's march towards championship glory, but hasn't kicked a ball for 13 games after picking up a knee injury.

However, manager Tony McInally, his team-mates, club officials and supporters will be delighted to see Gall receive the trophy.

And the big stopper said: "My knee flared up during our Scottish Cup defeat by Hurlford and cartilage trouble was diagnosed. However, a scan has shown there may be further damage and I am waiting for word from my consultant to go in for surgery.

"The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. Going to our games without any hope of taking part has been terr-ible. It has been difficult to feel part of things as the guys closed in on the title.

"My frustration got to me a few weeks back and I put myself forward to play against Yoker, but 10 minutes in, I suffered a reaction to putting my weight on the joint.

"Now I'm resigned to waiting to pull on the boots in the Super Premier next season."

Injury apart, the former Queen's Park ace has loved his first season at Junior level. Gallacher said: "Tony playing me in my preferred position of centre-back - which wasn't often the case with Queen's - has only added to my enjoyment.

"I'm very settled here and I can't wait to step into the top league and have the chance to test myself against the best strikers in the game.

"The gaffer may look to improve things by bringing in new signings, but I won't be giving up my jersey without a fight."

Lok boss Macca was still seething over last midweek's New Coin Holdings Cup defeat by Wishaw.

He said: "I've never been a scalp for a so-called minnow and it grates to think we lost out to Wishaw's only effort on target all night.

"Would we have lost with Gall playing? I'd like to think not, but I refuse to have regrets.

"Our target was to become the first Super Premier team to be relegated and bounce straight back up as champions.

"It's a tribute to Gall and the guys that we have done so from the position of sitting top of the table since last September.

"We've been a target for every other team and then there's the Pollok factor - everyone gives an extra 20 per cent playing against us yet we have stayed at the top of the pile."

Another couple of famous old Glasgow clubs, Central Second Division pair St Roch's and Glasgow Perthshire, may have the champagne on ice today, but only one will have reason to crack it open.

A day of drama is in prospect, with both promotion- challenging outfits playing the final games of their league campaign. St Roch's make the relatively short hop into Lanarkshire to face Royal Albert, while the Shire go up against Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park.

Billy Adams' side need a win to guarantee their step up to the First Division as third-placed club.

However, any other outcome coupled with a St Roch's victory would enable the Garngad club to leapfrog their rivals and cap a topsy-turvy campaign for Andy Cameron and his players. The prophets of doom were circling after they collected only three wins from their opening dozen league fixtures.

But a revival got under way in February and the Candy Rock stormed into promotion contention on the back of a seven-game winning streak (eight including the Euroscot Eng Central League Cup defeat of St Anthony's).

On paper at least, St Roch's look to have the easier hurdle to negotiate, with Royal Albert second bottom.

However last Saturday's postponement of the twin fixtures allowed second-top Burgh to clinch promotion in midweek, leaving Colin Smith's side with only pride to play for against a fired-up Shire.

Cameron said: "It would have been preferable for the games to have gone ahead when all three teams had something to play for, however I'm pretty sure Johnstone Burgh won't be turning up just for show.

"And Royal Albert are very well organised and nobody's pushovers as they proved in coming away with a 1-1 draw at our place.

"Club officials reckon it's more than 50 years since St Roch's last won eight games on the spin. We are looking to make it nine and force them to delve even further back in the history books.

"Today could be truly momentous but if we come up short then I'd like to think the learning curve we have experienced will serve us in good stead next season."

Suspension rules out St Roch's top scorer Jordan Logan after he accumulated 18 disciplinary points, and hard-line gaffer Cameron hopes the talented youngster will learn his lesson.

He added: "The team will miss Jordan as he possesses an eye for an opening as well as finishing skills that set him apart from most players.

"And the lad himself will go through agonies in having to spectate at arguably our most important game of the season when, deep down, he knows many of his bookings could have been avoided with some self-control."