Absent English confident Ferguslie can maintain winning ways

The Paisley club appear to be climbing the Scottish cricket ladder again after a couple of years in freefall and their recent run of positive results has brought back the feelgood factor to Meikleriggs.

Frustratingly for English - one of a fresh crop of young stars at the club - he won't part of the squad which takes on West Lothian on home turf this afternoon. But he believes the side will have enough firepower to get the better of the Linlithgow outfit, whose form has taken a dip.

English said: "I am in the Scotland squad for the European Under-15 Championships in Deventer next week and coach Craig Wright wanted us all to have a weekend off to stay as fresh as possible. But the West Lothian match is a big occasion and I am sure the lads will do the business."

English, who is replaced by David Sturgeon, added: "The team are clicking along pretty well at the moment.

"Richard Rutnagur hit a crucial 40 last week in the derby win against Kelburne and Martin McAllister and Duncan Patterson bowled very tidily."

West Lothian will be determined to bounce back in the wake of their Jon Kent-inspired defeat by SMRH.

Kent and his team-mates, now a definite force to be reckoned with, should be too strong for Weirs at Inverleith, although the Glasgow unit have proved more than once that they can match the best on the day.

The campaigns of Freuchie and Imans Edinburgh have been blighted by inconsistency, both in terms of results and level of performance.

That makes the tussle between them at Muir Road a hard one to call.

Runaway leaders Dumfries are unlikely to be troubled by Kelburne at Whitehaugh, unless home pro David Harper fires with bat and ball.

Finally, Renfrew, victims of a shock reverse at the hands of Weirs last time out, ought to get back to winning ways when they welcome RH Corstorphine to King George V Playing Fields this afternoon.