ARTHURLIE have every right to be full of confidence ahead of Saturday's crunch relegation contest at home to fellow basement-battlers Pollok.

So says Lok gaffer Tony McInally in the face of stats showing the Barrhead outfit have pulled 10 points out of the fire with three wins and a draw in their last five Super Premier outings.

This red-hot streak is enough to intimidate most sides - but not Pollok - according to Macca who is preparing for his first derby clash as manager of the Southside giants.

He insisted: "We've played really well ourselves over the same period and I firmly believe our players have not derived the reward that their performances have merited.

"We drew 1-1 down at Cumnock but felt the game had been ours to win and it was every bit as frustrating to come away empty-handed from recent meetings with Auchinleck and Clydebank.

"Now we find ourselves in the situation where how we play in our final three league matches doesn't matter because the be all and end all is to put points on the board and in many respects I'm just happy to have matters in our own hands.

"Arthurlie are the team with the momentum and will no doubt be buoyed by their winning ways but my players will hopefully show they are also in good form.

"The circumstances surrounding Saturday's head-to-head makes my first derby game that bit more special but I can honestly say I am looking forward to it."

In with a high likelihood of lining up for the home team is tricky winger Ryan McArdle who this time last season was part of the Pollok side that secured their safety from the drop with a final league game victory over Shotts Bon Accord.

He said: "It's bordering on the unbelievable to think of the many changes that have taken place at Pollok in less than a year.

"Of that John Richardson squad, only Steff Reilly is currently on the books and I understand he has not featured all that regularly under Tony McInally.

"Not that it matters a jot to me to be coming up against former team-mates as my only aim is to help Arthurlie win and take a massive step closer to safety from the drop.

" It's not beyond us because there have been definite signs of us gelling as a team over the past two months and last weekend's return of Gary Smith from suspension has been the icing on the cake.

"He is a top-notch striker and scored twice against Cumnock in his first game back so you can bet your boots he will be desperate to make up for lost time against Pollok.

"If we come out on top then I fancy my old club will be all but doomed but they are not a concern of mine any more."

Rumours sweeping the Southside reckoning ex-Lok marksman Carlo Monti could be set to make a return to his former Newlandsfield pastures following his release by Dundee have been scoffed at by Macca.

HE reasoned: "Carlo is an outstanding player and a class act at this level so it would be a dream come true to land someone of his ability, however I'm sure every Super Premier manager would give the same response if you asked them the question.

"He has a great affinity for this club which would stand us in good stead were he to consider dropping back into the Juniors but my own feeling is he will remain in the Senior ranks possibly with the likes of Albion Rovers who previously attempted to sign him."

Meanwhile, the remaining top-flight encounters taking place have bottom markers Largs Thistle needing to avoid defeat at home to Cumnock to keep alive lingering hopes of avoiding the drop.

And at the other end of the table, Clydebank will take a huge stride towards clinching third-top spot in the standings for the second consecutive season with a Holm Park victory over fourth placed Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Picking up the three points on offer would leave only Scottish Junior Cup semi- finalists Hurlford United able to overhaul the Bankies over the Super Premier run-in.