Bowls: Porty facing stern test in bid to shock the formbook

The Edinburgh club operates in the Division 1 league where they finished second to East Lothian, who failed to cope with the class of Midlothian in the first round. But it might help the Portobello cause that they have good knowledge of today’s neutral venue.

The Inveralmond stadium at Livingston is the scene of the action and Portobello are primed to have a real go with stalwart skips Harriet Munro, Isabel Anderson, Rita Reid and May Brownlee heading up the challenge.

Midlothian enjoy a colossal image in the ladies branch of the sport and seldom slip up against lesser opposition but the team from Dalkieith will not be at full strength for a Cup challenge that is viewed as a local derby.

Ace players Agnes Melrose and Carol Ashby are indisposed, while in a risky move, the selectors have chosen to leave junior caps Stacey Laidlaw and Kelly McDougall sitting on the reserve bench.

However skips Sandra McLeish, Shona Johnstone, Gaynor Blair, and Dot Low have a strong will to win attitude and back that competitive spirit with a high standard of skills that make them difficult to beat.

Elsewhere, Balbardie play Abbeyview (Dunfermline) at Headwell while West Lothian tackle Alloa at Falkirk.

Portobello

Rink 1: Helen Dougall, Alison McDougall, Barbara Kay, May Brownlee.

Rink 2: Jackie McFarlane, Zandra Kinnear, Margaret Murray, Isabel Anderson.

Rink 3: Cathy McLeod, Margaret Keenan, Nicola Barclay, Rita Reid.

Rink 4: Izzy Dixon, Liz Parfenowski, Cathy Ward, Harriet Munro.

Midlothian

Rink 1: Dorothy Millar, Sandra Wilson, Janette McVicar, Dot Low.

Rink 2: Megan Grantham, Linda Anderson, Lorraine Grant, Shona Johnstone.

Rink 3: Joyce Green, Margaret McLeod, Norma Shillinglaw, Sandra McLeish.

Rink 4: Doris Dempsey, Roma Blair, Mary Clement, Gaynor Blair.