No doubt many will disagree but the clash today of Pollok and Auchinleck Talbot is about so much more than fine-tuning preparations for the new season.

The head to head of arguably the two biggest WoSFL clubs doing the rounds transcends the very describe of “pre-season friendly” and would almost certainly have drawn one of the biggest Newlandsfield crowds of the coming season had Covid’s Level 2 restrictions not limited the capacity at the Southside ground to 250.

The issued tickets were very quickly snapped up and the game is a sell-out with the lucky ones among the Lok legions of followers set to provide an audible presence on the terracing slopes, limited as it is, to ensure players from both sides do not treat today as just another game.

That just never happens whenever these two titans of the game face-off yet it’s understandable if the shared desire to get one over on their great rivals could be inflamed even further in light of today’s locking of horns being the first between the clubs in over 18 months after both took the decision to sit out the inaugural WoSFL campaign (later cancelled) because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Lok gaffer Murdie McKinnon admitted: “Games between us and Auchinleck tend to get the hairs standing up on the back of your neck and it’s just a pity that so many supporters on both sides of the fence will not have the opportunity to see it.

“It’s our first friendly match and there’s no denying I could have chosen a gentler introduction to playing action but I firmly believe we will get a lot more out of 90 minutes against Talbot than from 2 or 3 outings against lesser opposition.

“Tommy Sloan has said a number of his players will be posted missing but you can take that with a pinch of salt because I fully expect him to find a means to field a very strong side that is sure to test our guys all over the pitch.

“Nobody but nobody ever gets an easy time of it going up against Talbot.”

Central defender Bryan Wharton is a definite non-starter in the Lok ranks while his possible replacement Grant Evans is carrying a calf muscle knock and is rated in the doubtful category by his  team boss.

Murdie added: “Saturday’s game might be coming a few days too soon for Grant and there’s no need to take risks because he’ll have the chance to acquire match fitness in our other games this week against Linlithgow Rose and Arthurlie.

“And we don’t need to push him as we are well covered defensively because Kyle Bradley and Evan Horne can both slot in at the back as can David Barron if needs be.

“Kyle and Evan are champing at the bit to make their Pollok debuts as is our former Ashfield  striker Callum Graham but the players know it’s not my intention to give everyone in the squad half an hour as is the norm in pre-season friendly matches as all you do is prevent the guys from finding any rhythm.

“We will try to  stick by our starting XI as much as possible and only make wholesale changes if needs must.”

Lok fans will be buoyed by the sight of Ryan McGregor, in line to make his long-awaited return from career-threatening knee ligament surgery while ex-Darvel captain Stephen McDevitt is similarly seeking a midfield role and word on the street reckons Murdie may yet unveil a couple of trialists, one of them former St Mirren Youths winger Matty Grant, whose impressive showings for Bellshill Athletic led to him being recently invited in to train with Pollok.

The 20-year-old turned out for his Lanarkshire side in a 4-1 victory over Carluke Rovers on Thursday night through goals from Murray Loudon (2) and Mate Laczi (2) with the Rovers response coming from Steven Frame.

Meanwhile, Auchinleck might be heading for Newlandsfield coming off a couple of pre-season games (1-1 Kello Rovers and 3-0  Johnstone Burgh)  but seasoned gaffer Sloan has a selection headache after Corey Pearson, Aiden Wilson and Willie Boyd declared themselves unavailable on account of supporting Scotland at Wembley yesterday.

Their absence along with injuries ruling out Stevie Wilson and possibly Keir Samson along with the retirements of Gordon Pope and Dwayne (Pee-Wee) Hyslop have left Sloan  hoping newcomers Jamie Bain (ex-Clyde midfielder) and former Shortlees Amateurs striker Aaron Mason (son of legendary Bot full-back Billy) can do him a turn.

Tucker insisted: "It’s early days yet but the new guys have been showing up well and they will relish a game against Pollok.

“Ideally we’d have liked to be stronger in terms of numbers going there however it is what it  is  and we’ll  look  to give a good account of ourselves.”

The list of other friendly affairs has WoSFL newcomers Glenvale and St Peters facing stiff tests against Renfrew and Clydebank respectively while a high scoring affair is on the cards at Dunterlie where Arthurlie and near neighbours Neilston meet for a second consecutive Saturday following last.weekend’s 4-3 Brig O’ Lea triumph for the Farmers Boys.

Johnstone Burgh will look to bounce back from a 4-1 midweek defeat by Beith when hosting the visit of yet another of the Premier Division big guns Darvel while Glasgow United (the team formerly known as Shettleston) take on East Stirling.

PLAYING TODAY (Kick-off 2PM unless stated)

Blantyre  Vics v St Cadocs, Pollok v Auchinleck Talbot, Johnstone Burgh v Darvel, Clyde v  Rossvale (1PM),Renfrew  v Glenvale, Glenafton v  Girvan, Clydebank v St Peters, Wishaw v Thorniewood  Utd, Rob Roy v Drumchapel Utd, Glasgow Utd  v East Stirling, Arthurlie v Neilston(2.30PM), St  Rochs  v Ashfield (12 noon Springburn Park ), Bonnyton Thistle v Maybole,Cumnock  v Stranraer (3PM).