IT may well be a precursor to the Central Sectional League Cup final, but you won’t catch Pollok boss Tony McInally using cliches like "dress rehearsal" to describe Saturday’s league clash with Clydebank.

That is partly because he has been around the game long enough to avoid falling into such traps, and partly because he has no idea when the showpiece game will be played.

Had Police Scotland not stepped in with safety concerns, it was due to take place under the floodlights at Benburb’s New Tinto Park tomorrow.

However, authorities ruled that the size of the venue and potential attendance were not compatible and the tie was postponed until an as yet undecided date.

The Super Premier Division meeting between the two sides, which was originally put off to accommodate the final, has now been reinstated and McInally is set to welcome Kieron McAnespie’s Bankies to Newslandsfield on Saturday.

And the Pollok gaffer has dismissed any notion that the fixture can be used to prove a point ahead of whenever the League Cup showdown eventually takes place.

“I’m not really sure if we can say that a win on Saturday would be laying down a marker,” McInally said. “The cup final could be six weeks away or it could be six months away, and the players available on Saturday might not be available then.

“As far as rescheduling goes, you’ve got facilities if they want to play it during the week or on a Friday night, you’ve got grounds that have floodlights and pitches that are perfectly suitable.

“Benburb deserve credit, they’ve built a new stadium and a new ground and their facilities are excellent. But was it right for a cup final with two teams with a large support? I think the right decision’s been made there in terms of spectator safety.

“But, at this moment in time, I have no interest in the cup final because I don’t know when it’s going to be played – my only concern is the next game.

“The good thing from my point of view is that I’ve got a number of players back now. I’ve got people like Ross Brash – who’s in the Scotland squad – back from injury, I’ve got Martin McGoldrick back from work and I have Stefan McCluskey and Alan McKenzie available after suspension so my squad is stronger for the weekend.”

Lok took a point from league and Scottish Cup champions Glenafton last weekend but have yet to hit the heights that manager McInally expects, despite comfortable passage through the rounds of the Sectional Cup.

The Bankies, on the other hand, enjoyed a similarly straightforward progression to the final but last Saturday’s 2-0 success over Cumnock was their first three points of the league campaign.

Boss McAnespie now has his sights set on causing an upset in Glasgow’s Southside, but he too couldn’t hide his disappointment over the unresolved cup situation.

“It’s been a bit shambolic,” he admitted. “Everybody knew the cup final was due to be played so why not have a plan A, B and C? We’re now presented with a situation where we don’t have a set date for it, and that’s worrying.

“It’s less about me and the players, it’s more about the clubs and supporters. It’s a shame when two weeks ago both clubs were preparing for a cup final and now we don’t know what’s happening.

“In terms of this week’s game, it’ll be a huge test for us. It hasn’t quite happened yet for Pollok with the squad they’ve got, but there’s a lot of big players there.

“They’re going to hit somebody very hard, very soon and we need to be on our toes. With the players at their disposal, they’re going to pull somebody’s pants down at some point and I just hope it’s not us.”

Both sides were in the hat for yesterday’s Scottish Cup second round draw and came out with away ties – Pollok will play Royal Albert while Clydebank face a trip north to Kennoway Star Hearts.

Elsewhere, holders Glenafton will open their defence of the trophy at Dalry while east and west will collide when Kilbirnie Ladeside welcome Penicuik.

Auchinleck Talbot will host Forres and there is also a home clash for high-flyers Beith as they take on Inverness City.