POLLOK will attempt to get their season back on track when arch-rivals Arthurlie visit on Whyte & Mackay Cup business tonight.

It will be Lok's first outing since the crushing disappointment of their Citylink Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Bathgate Thistle 11 days ago.

And experienced striker Robert Downs believes tonight's showdown and the visit of Irvine Meadow in a potential Super Premier title decider on Saturday will shape their entire season.

Winning both, he reckons, would bury any lingering memories of their Citylink sickener.

He said: "The Bathgate nightmare has been put to the back of our minds and we are focused on the job in hand and nothing else.

"Personally, it helped me to be away with the Scotland squad, but the guys who stayed back here say there's been a great spirit in the camp with everyone looking forward to making amends in our remaining games and finishing on a high.

"Well, they don't come much bigger or tougher than Arthurlie, and more so given we have yet to win in any of our three previous meetings this season."

There could be changes in the Pollok line-up with the likes of Andy McLay, Alan Waddell and David McGeown all vying for starting jerseys.

Set for a daunting derby debut is Arthurlie's back-up goalkeeper Peter Shaw, previously with Dumbarton.

His opportunity to impress has come about because James Evans tore a thigh muscle during last weekend's 1-0 defeat by Shotts .

Lie gaffer Mark Cameron will also be without broken foot victim Craig Baxter and the cup-tied pair of Alan Shields and Paddy Flannery.

Branco said: "It's not ideal to be under-strength in a game of this importance, but we have a fully-fit John Bradford back in contention and this might be a game perfectly suited for the likes of him and Eddie Annand."

Bitter foes Cumnock and Auchinleck go head-to-head in a relegation battle, with the visitors desperate to avenge their Citylink exit at the hands of their great rivals.

Nock striker Mick Hughes misses out through injury, while Talbot boss Tommy Sloan may look to John Boyle and Colin Spence to revive his team's flagging fortunes. Highly-rated East Region whistler Brian Colvin - who took charge of the Cumnock v Auchinleck Citylink quarter-final clash - has been awarded the plum appointment of man-in-the-middle for the City-link Final on Sunday, June 1 at Rugby Park.

Assisting him are Steven Crichton and Ian Craig, while the fourth official is popular West Region old stager Donnie McKinnon. Tonight

(7pm kick-offs)

Whyte & Mackay Cup. Third round: Pollok v Arthurlie.

Stagecoach Super Premier: Cumnock v Auchinleck, Glenafton v Irvine Meadow.

Stagecoach Super First: Vale of Clyde v Lesmahagow, Kilbirnie v Kilwinning, Largs v East Kilbride, Annbank v Johnstone Burgh, Rob Roy v Clydebank, Maybole v Troon.

Stagecoach Central District First: Cumbernauld v Benburb, St Roch's v Glencairn, Blantyre Vics v Dunipace.

Stagecoach Ayrshire District: Winton Rovers v Hurlford, Irvine Vics v Dalry.

Ayrshire Cup. 2nd round: Darvel v Saltcoats, Craigmark v Lugar.