Arbroath United bullish about Ayr raid as five sides chase title glory

JUST four rounds of matches to go and five teams still harbour valid hopes of title glory with a sixth clinging on to a remote mathematical possibility.

It promises to be an enervating end to an enthralling season.

New leaders Arbroath United face a tough trip to Ayr but remain characteristically bullish. "We're excited rather than nervous," insisted skipper Fraser Burnett. "We do have a tough run-in but we're aiming to enjoy it. Whatever happens we've already achieved our main objective of a top-six finish."

Greg Peel replaces unavailable Peter Clarke for the Lichties, who also bring in young Bryce Carnegie for Murray Clark.

Ayr skipper Marc Renny recalls the experienced duo of left-armer Phil Wilson and batsman Neil McCrossan for the injured Calum Leck and Richie Borland.

"The sides are closely matched," said Renny. "Our first game at Lochlands was tied, and we've been working hard in training this week on eliminating some sloppiness evident in the field last week at Stenhousemuir."

Prolific Alloway pro Michael Papps - three centuries and a ninety in his last four completed league innings - could well hold the key.

Deposed leaders Heriot's remain upbeat for their Coatbridge confrontation with fourth-placed Drumpellier.

"We're aiming to finish strongly," said skipper Steve Knox. "To keep in touch with the top and take it to a last-day head-to-head with Arbroath."

The Goldenacre side await fitness tests on Andre van Niekerk and Chris Goddard, whilst the Langloan men will definitely be without key bowlers John Hutton and Ian Warden.

"This is make-or-break for us," admitted Drumpellier's ex-Scotland man Alan Stevenson. "We're possibly struggling for a fifth bowler, but we'll manufacture some overs from underrated Graeme McLaren, Zaheed Mohammed and Chris Keltie."

Third-placed Stoneywood-Dyce aim to make it ten straight league wins when they travel to the Tryst to face second-bottom Stenhousemuir, contrastingly with just one win in 13 starts.

"We're quietly confident," said People's Park skipper George Ninan, "but we're not getting ahead of ourselves. We'll keep taking one game at a time."

The Aberdeen side hand a debut to young bowler Rory Saunders, while Stenny, captained by pro Hamish Rutherford in Stuart Whyte's absence, welcome back keeper Sanjay Rakshit, seamer Nick Lister, and Bobby Angus.

Stirling County, buoyed by last week's defeat of Heriot's, bring back young Glenalmond seamer George Smith for the trip to bottom side Penicuik.

"Our bowling's going well," said Rees. "Both Richie Carswell and Josh Edwards were superb against Heriot's, while Matthew Tweedie at number 6 delivered a splendidly composed fifty in the crisis caused by Sean Weereratna's hat-trick.' Ex-Scotland seamer Craig MacKellar returns for the Kirkhill men, replacing Dougie Liddle.'

At Shawholm Poloc and Falkland, both out of contention, will blood youngsters. Alan Hamilton (Jnr) comes in for the Scroggie Park men, with Paul Watson replacing brother Graeme.