Bowls: Bainfield boss John Bell believes his boys can best Balbardie

THE resumption of the mens' national indoor bowls league system tomorrow is highlighted by a top-of-the-table clash in Division 1B between joint leaders Bainfield and Balbardie at Bathgate.

It's the penultimate fixture and Bainfield have the edge with a superior shot margin of plus 37 but that will count for little if they suffer defeat in the territory of their chief rivals in the race for promotion to the premier league.

"I have the utmost respect for the ability of Balbardie however I do believe that Bainfield have the class within our ranks to score a win that would move us closer to rejoining the elite teams of the sport," said team manager John Bell.

Bell – whose stated ambition at the start of the campaign was to regain premier league status for Bainfield – makes one enforced change with Stuart Patterson returning for the unavailable Willie McDonald.

The New Year resumption also has great significance for the other Edinburgh team with Portobello going great guns in the basement Division 2B league and bidding to clinch promotion with an away win over Teviotdale.

East Lothian are locked with Blantyre at the top of the B section of the premier league and the four-in-a-row champions will have the services of Willie Wood, after his early exit from the World Singles at Potters Leisure, for a tough away test at Coatbridge.

West Lothian are two points off the pace in the A section of the premier league and will hope that home advantage against Prestwick will enable them to keep the pressure on leaders Lanarkshire, who entertain Midlothian.