Heriot's anxious to fend off the pack by beating Stenhousemuir

Just six games to go - and stuttering Heriot's, twice losers in their last three league games, have allowed the chasing pack to close in. The Goldenacre men are anxious to get back on track today against second-bottom Stenhousemuir.

"Yes, things have tightened up a bit," admits skipper Steve Knox. "It's vital we rediscover good habits, and get back to winning ways. Sean Weereratna's return from Scotland A duty will help us greatly, but it looks like it's going to be very close right down to the line."

Young leg-spinner Tony White comes in for Heriot's, who also retain Indian seam bowler Akshay Phale against a Stenhousemuir side welcoming back Graeme Gardner, but which capitulated lamely to 53 all out in under 25 overs at home to Drumpellier last week, and for whom the end of an abject season cannot come soon enough.

Third-placed Drumpellier, hopeful that that Graeme McLaren will return from his Mexican sojourn in time to lead the side, host one-time favourites Ayr, frustrated by last week's rain which saw them demoted them to fifth slot. Notwithstanding that, pro Michael Papps is aiming for his fourth successive league century, the Alloway men travel to Langloan with a significantly weakened side.

Skipper Mark Renny is on holiday, young Andi McElnea taking over the reins, while keeper Neil Smith and opening bowler Scott McElnea are away in Belfast on Scotland U19 duty and seamer Phil Wilson is unavailable. Scotland U15 keeper Sebastian Stewart makes his SNCL debut, and there are places for Calum McLaughlan, Richie Borland, Neil McCrossan, and David Johnstone.

Resurgent Stoneywood-Dyce are aiming to extend their winning league run to a remarkable eight games when they welcome last Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final opponents Stirling County to hostile People's Park. Stirling welcome back James Miller for unavailable Glenn Rogers, and hand a league debut to Glenalmond schoolboy bowler George Smith.

Second-top Arbroath United aim to keep maximum pressure on the leaders when they entertain a youthful, eighth-placed Falkland side at Lochlands.

"We had a big fright last week away at Penicuik," admits skipper Fraser Burnett, "but our winning mentality carried us through - just! We're due to play Heriot's in the final game, and it's up to us now to maintain our momentum right up to what could be a last-day showdown."

Wicket-keeper Marc Petrie returns from Scotland A duty for the Lichties, replacing Chris Shepherd, while Graeme Watson and Thomas Brunton come in for Ryan and Craig Hepburn respectively for the Scroggie Park side.

Poloc's dire six-game losing sequence has all but consigned them to next year's second-tier Championship, but if they are to entertain any hope of qualifying they must defeat bottom club Penicuik today in Glasgow.

Madushan Jayaratne returns for the Shawholm side, whilst the Kirkhill team reintroduce Duggie Liddle for Greg Ruthven, and travel west greatly heartened by last week's resilient effort in taking high-flying Arbroath right down to the wire.