When high-flying Rob Roy and Glenafton go head-to-head at Guys Meadow tomorrow afternoon, one thing is guaranteed.

The outcome will ensure a new team is topping the Super Premier Division table once the dust has settled.

A superior goals difference has reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot currently fronting up the West Region’s elite.

So a draw is sufficient if nearest challengers Rabs are to regain the top spo.

However, it hasn’t escaped Kirkintilloch team boss Stewart Maxwell’s attention that a victory for the visiting Glens would take them to the summit.

It has almost gone unnoticed that Craig McEwan’s men have staged a superb recovery from a disastrous start to their league campaign - just one point was banked from a possible 12.

But they have strung together four consecutive wins to promote themselves into the title reckoning.

Maxi, though, is warning his shock troops to expect the Ayrshiremen to be doubly motivated in wanting to avenge a 2-0 Loch Park defeat from Rob Roy on the opening day of the league season.

He said: "There wasn’t a lot to choose between the teams in our last meeting until two goals in the closing ten minutes edged things in our favour and I always fancied Glenafton would come good.

“A major factor has been Southy strengthening his side with their former midfielder Michael Wardrope clearly making a big difference since arriving back on loan from Ayr United.

"While his most recent signing David Gray from B.S.C. Glasgow is another midfielder with a terrific pedigree.

“Our results show we have improved ourselves so all the ingredients are in place for a cracking game tomorrow. There are too many good players sprinkled throughout both clubs for it to be anything else.”

Rob Roy’s preparations for the crunch clash suffered a setback when a scheduled Glasgow Green friendly outing against Rutherglen Glencairn last Monday night was called off on account of an unplayable pitch.

Maxi said: “Gary McMenamin, Chris Duff and Danny Boyle have all been carrying knocks of late so I had intended to use the friendly workout to establish if they had made a full recovery.

“Having those plans kyboshed leaves me needing to gamble on their fitness against the Glens, which is far from ideal.

"However, they have all emerged as influential players for us this season so I can hardly do otherwise in a game of this importance.”

News from the visiting camp reckons Glenafton, now shorn of centre-back stalwart Jamie McGeoghegan after work commitments forced him to move down to England before Xmas, are expected to be close to full strength with only an injury concern over ex-Rabs midfielder Jamie Hay affecting boss McEwan’s selection thoughts.

Rob Roy’s landlords and long-standing rivals Cumbernauld United fared considerably better in the Monday night friendly match stakes with manager John Queen reporting his players worked away the New Year cobwebs with an impressive 3-2 triumph over Sauchie Juniors on the spacious 4G surface at Recreation Park.

Queeny said: "The guys put up a really impressive performance against a strong Sauchie side and I took a lot of positives from how we went about our business, not least of all terrific showings by three Cumbernauld United Under 18 players who were brought in to help make up our numbers on the night.

“They’ve given me plenty of food for thought ahead of heading down the coast to take on the Super First Division leaders Largs Thistle.

"However, it may be unfair to throw the youngsters in against a team on the rebound after losing at home to the bottom markers Maybole last weekend.

“ That result goes down as a major shock given it was Thistle’s first league defeat of the season and you can bet on Bryan Slaven demanding his players get back on the rails against ourselves.

“My guys will need to show plenty of character so it’s pleasing to see them in such good fettle in the Sauchie game.

“It’s been a cruel winter as we’ve only played three times since the start of November and lost each time with our Scottish Cup defeat by Linlithgow Rose followed by disappointing league defeats against Kilwinning Rangers and Bellshill Athletic.

“And this Super First Division is such an unforgiving environment that those back to back losses have dropped us onto the relegation fringes so it’s imperative we start to get points on the board and put ourselves in a better spot.

“Getting a revival underway against the league leaders is a massive ask but the guys will give it their best shot.”

Cumbernauld have no injury worries, however experienced striker Stephen McDonald is returning from holiday this week and Queeny intends to assess his condition before naming his Barrfields line-up.

The upset potential of a battling Maybole will have been heeded second placed Clydebank who await the visit to Holm Park of the Ayrshire shock troops while another intriguing Super First Division contest takes place at New Southcroft Park where Rutherglen Glencairn take on fellow strugglers Shotts Bon Accord.