Heriot's ready to ring the changes against Poloc

TABLE-topping Heriot's are set to test their squad depth as a much-changed side ventures west to face mercurial, third-placed Poloc. Skipper Steve Knox is still sidelined with a broken thumb, whilst Qasim Asraf, Antony Edington and Raja Javed are all unavailable.

In come Chris Goddard, rejuvenated by a 60 in the seconds, Calum McDougall, and, subject to a late fitness test, all-rounder Johnny White.

The Goldenacre men will again look to Adam Lockhart-Krause, Gavin McIntyre and Sean Weereratna to maintain their current free-scoring momentum, while prolific Matthew Thomas will welcome a traditionally slow, spinner-friendly Shawholm pitch after last week's late-innings Drumpellier mauling.

Poloc, conversely, re-introduce two frontline all-rounders. "The welcome return of Keith Sheridan and Dan Walton will add further impetus to a side still in transition, but which has now won its last three SNCL games," enthuses spokesman Keith Young.

Waiting to capitalise on any Heriot's slip-up are vibrant Stirling County, who host Falkland. In the absence of skipper Phil Rees, Iain McGhee will captain the New Williamfield side, rightly buoyant after last Sunday's Scottish Cup eclipse of Premier League Greenock, as they introduce all-rounder Adnan Akram for unavailable Iain McDonald. Youngster Steve Meikle comes in for Jamie Cachia for the Scroggie Park outfit, who, only one win, remain upbeat. "We will keep plugging away," pledges bullish veteran Paul Watson, "and the tide will surely turn for us."

Drumpellier, notwithstanding the double disappointment of last week's rain abandonment when they were going well at Goldenacre, followed by Sunday's Scottish Cup defeat at Stoneywood, travel confidently to winless Penicuik. The Kirkhill men, desperate to break their duck, juggle their pack, Ricky Davidson and Jamie Mitchell coming in for Ross Liddle and Grant Davidson. Drumpellier will again parade Indian pro Khatib Shahabuddin, whose blistering 126 last week was "the best innings I've seen this season", according to Steve Knox. "He inherited a crisis, marshalled the tail, and then went ballistic in the final few overs."

Unlucky Ayr, who had to settle for an anti-climatic tie against Arbroath when many observers felt skipper Mark Renny had made his ground for a last-ball winning run, must regroup quickly for the visit of dangerous Stoneywood-Dyce. The New Cambusdoon men hope to have left-arm seamer Phil Wilson back, and he may get the new ball against an unchanged Peoples Park outfit delighted by two successive league wins and a Scottish Cup quarter-final home tie against RH Corstorphine or Dumfries.

Elsewhere, underachieving Arbroath United ring the changes for their trip to the Tryst. In come Mark Edwards, Matthew Gove, and Ross McLean. Captain Fraser Burnett remains out injured, Peter Clarke is unavailable and Kevin Stott is dropped. Stuart Whyte returns to skipper struggling Stenhousemuir, who again look to veteran Iain Philip and the Rutherford brothers to produce the runs required to be competitive.