Championship: Raven picks out Singh and Lyons as dangermen to West Lothian

IT'S Championship crunch time for faltering East Kilbride. The Torrance House men began their campaign so brightly, before brittle batting has seen them subside to three successive defeats, but they have the chance to redeem themselves today at home to the undefeated frontrunners, West Lothian.

Despite a disappointing bowling performance last week against Weirs, engaging Boghall skipper Andy Raven, who will work his way back to match fitness bowling for the seconds at Haddington, announces an unchanged line-up: "This is a game we've been relishing since the start of the season. We see Harry Singh with the bat and Ross Lyons with the ball as EK's main danger men, and we'll need to play to our full potential to get a result."

Dark horses Poloc, having stealthily crept up into second slot, are poised to take advantage of any slip-up by the leaders when they host Stenhousemuir, boosted by last week's one-run D/L triumph against EK. The Shawholm side make two enforced changes, young seamer Haris Khan and veteran Keith Young coming in for unavailable keeper Paul Flanagan and James Blackburn, Dan Walton taking over the gloves. History favours the Glasgow southsiders, who haven't tasted defeat in this fixture since 2006, with the key battle focusing on the four South Africans, Poloc's Huyser brothers, and Ranwill Claassen and pro Rushdi Jappie for Stenny.

Third-placed Weirs continued their sparkling run of form last week at Linlithgow, setting a challenging 275 only for a monsoon to intervene, but, unchanged, they will start as firm favourites at home to second-bottom Penicuik. Pro Ruan du Plessis, opener Russell Murray, and recent recruit from Scotindians Shanthi Noolapalli are all in fine, run-scoring form with the bat for the Albert Park men. Pro Ryan Nurse will again pose the main Penicuik threat.

RH Corstorphine and stand-in captain Craig Adams face major selection headaches ahead of the visit of Dumfries. Regulars Gordon Lamb, David Ross, Gordon Allan, Azhar Abid and Rob More are all out, replaced by Mike Yellowlees, Sulieman Malik and fit-again Jamie Burton. A seaming Barnton greentop will nevertheless provide a stern test for the Nunholm men, who make just one change, young Neil Alexander coming in for Davie Davidson, from the side frustrated by rain against Poloc after posting a splendid 241 in 45 overs.

SMRH Kiwi pro George Worker, who featured as Scotland's overseas player in this week's two thrilling CB40 victories over Northants and Warwickshire, will be the leading light when the Inverleith side travel to Whitehaugh to face a vibrant Kelburne outfit seeking to build on four victories which have propelled them up to seventh.

SMRH bring in Chris Bissett and Rava Javed for Jonny Brock and TJ Beattie, while in-form Sarmad Ahmed retains his place ahead of Vish Shah.Elsewhere Freuchie, albeit with one eye on Sunday's Village Cup battle with last year's Lord's winners Sessay, will start as favourites against understrength Edinburgh Accies, while Falkland introduce young opening batsman/keeper Adam Ferguson for the visit of sixth-placed Ferguslie.