Terry Hewitt is determined to lead a Blantyre Vics side he reckons is the best he's played in to the Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup Final.

Coming out on top in tomorrow's semi-final showdown with Wishaw would see the 26-year-old team captain realise the biggest achievement of his Junior career and he is upbeat about the Vics' chances.

"Most of the guys are similar to me in never having played in a cup final at Junior level so it's exciting to think we are only 90 minutes away from it happening," said the towering stopper.

"Nobody is taking anything for granted as a not-inconsiderable hurdle has to be negotiated first in trying to get the better of a very good Wishaw team who were promoted alongside ourselves and have started this season like a house on fire.

"There was not a lot to choose between the sides in our Second Division clashes and it could be just as tight this time around. However, I'm hoping the transfer moves made by our manager Davie Greig during the close season will edge things in our favour.

"He has put together a Vics squad which has considerably more strength in depth and now has everyone playing at their best just to try to stay in the team.

"Yet still we have kept a team spirit and camaraderie among the players that is as good as any I've ever come across. Believe me when I say that our dressing room is a great place to be on a Saturday afternoon."

The pulled hamstring

injury sustained by Graeme Goodall in the first minute of last weekend's 2-1 victory over St Anthony's renders him a definite non-starter along with Willie Eadie (damaged ankle ligaments). But former Airdrie and Clyde signing Hewitt reckons he and his Blantyre team-mates can overcome these injury blows.

He said: "Not having everyone available for a game of this importance is disappointing but we can still boast a strong spine to the team with experienced guys such as Lee McShane, Davie Green, Davie Kirkwood and Craig Smith, while it's a major boost that Andy 'The Legend' Sinclair is available again.

"Chris Wilson, of Kilbirnie Ladeside, is a good friend of mine from when we both played for Airdrie and he holds down the left-back slot for Junior Scotland, but the way I see it nobody is better than Andy in the position."

Blantyre also welcome back Brian McLaughlin after he missed the Ants match due to attending a wedding.

However team boss Greig - for whom the semi-final is his first as a manager - is adamant he will be delaying his team selection until nearer kick-off time.

He said: "One or two players are nursing niggling knocks which I fully expect will have cleared up by tomorrow afternoon but better to be safe than sorry.

"And, anyway, the last thing I want to do is declare my playing hand too early and give any advantage to Wishaw gaffer John McKeown.

"We are under no illusions as to just how tough a contest awaits, with Wishaw boasting never-say-die types in Mark Daly, Neil Newman, Nicky Moore and Ryan Kennedy whose will to win is sure to rub off on their team-mates.

"With big Terry similarly banging the drum in our dressing room, both sets of players will go into the semi-final thinking they can win it."

Looking forward to the occasion is Wishaw gaffer McKeown despite his side

losing their last two outings, both at the Beltane - to Benburb and Bellshill Athletic.

The former Ayr United defender admitted: "Nobody likes to go into a semi-final on the back of two defeats but we brought about our own downfall through avoidable individual errors.

"In neither of those games were we outplayed so the guys' confidence has not taken too much of a dent. The key now is for us to get back to basics for the Blantyre match.

"Bookies will regard them as firm favourites so the pressure is on Davie and his players, particularly as they turned us over last season on their way to lifting the Central Second Division title."

McKeown is contemplating as many as five changes to the Wishaw line-up that lost 3-1 against Bellshill.

Paul McGeough, Jonathan Boal, Kieron Chalmers and the two Thomson brothers - goalkeeper Sandy and young striker Jason - have declared themselves available.

And they are ready to battle it out with their Blantyre counterparts for the right to face Cumbernauld United in next month's Euroscot Eng showpiece finale.

SATURDAY GAMES

Kick-offs 2pm

Euroscot Eng League Cup semi-final: Wishaw v Blantyre Vics.

Stagecoach Super Premier: Shotts Bon Accord v Arthurlie, Petershill v Clydebank, Hurlford v Auchinleck Talbot.

Super First: Yoker v Shettleston, Pollok v Cumbernauld, Neilston v Thorniewood, Rutherglen Glencairn v Greenock, Maybole v Kilsyth Rangers, Pollok v Cumbernauld.

Central First: Ashfield v Carluke Rovers, Bellshill Athletic v Vale of Clyde, Larkhall Thistle v Maryhill, St Anthony's v Benburb, Lanark Utd v Renfrew, Dunipace v Lesmahagow.

Central Second: Newmains Utd v Royal Albert , Johnstone Burgh v Cambuslang Rangers, Port Glasgow v Glasgow Perthshire, St Roch's v Vale of Leven, Forth v East Kilbride Thistle.