New-look Capital sides battle it out

However, Lothian's joint manager Fraser Ogilvie is not reading too much into that.

He said: "I can guarantee that the league table places at the moment will bear no resemblance to what they will be, come the end of the season.

"Any team in the Premier Division is capable of beating any other as I regard the league as being much stronger this season. It really is impossible to say which teams will be in the top, the middle or the bottom sections.

"There will be no automatic wins as there have been in recent seasons and every team is catching up with each other and although Spartans will still be the team to beat it will not be easy for them. Because many clubs lost players and brought others in during the close season it will be a rebuilding process for most of them and I reckon that the league title race will go right to the wire."

Lothian introduced several new players including striker James Butler whose pace and ability to jump have already proved to be a bonus for the Saughton-based club who lost their leading goalscorer and captain, Wayne McIntosh, to Tynecastle during the summer.

Another addition that Thistle have made is the appointment of former Hibs player Mickey Weir as their coach. Weir played over 200 games for Hibs and scored 30 goals as well as playing for Luton Town, Millwall and Motherwell.

"Mickey wanted to get back into football after a back injury so he is helping Chic McAleavy and myself," said Ogilvie. "The boys really respect him and he is a big coup for Lothian Thistle. He adds vital experience and he is good to have around the place."

Lothian were beaten 1-0 by Edinburgh University last Saturday although Ogilvie was quick to point out: "I thought that we were really unlucky because it took us 20 minutes to get into the game but after that, especially in the second half, I felt that we absolutely controlled the game. We made one individual defensive mistake and were punished with the only goal of the game early in the second half. However, I could not fault my players' effort and commitment which were excellent. "The boys we have brought in are young although we still have experienced players in goalkeeper Kevin Swain, defender Richie Wilkes and striker Craig Hume along with captain Jim Young and it is up to them to help our youngsters on the field.

The City managers, John Green and Gary Jardine, always have them well organised and although we are going into the game off the back of a defeat, if we show the correct effort and self-belief then our football abilities will take care of themselves."

Lothian have no injury or unavailability problems ahead of tomorrow's meeting but Edinburgh City's joint manager, John Green, does have players missing. "Kevin Morrison and Scott McFarlane are both injured, Ruaraidh Scott is in Lithuania and Jorge Vinnelli, our recent signing from Spartans, is on holiday in Spain," said Green. "On the positive side, Ross Macnamara returns and Ewan Black is fit for his first start of the season."

City's opening four games in the Premier Division have seen them lose two and draw two. "We drew 1-1 with Vale of Leithen due to a basic mistake and lost 1-0 to Whitehill Welfare because of a bad pass-back. If we had gained the additional three points I felt we deserved from these games then we would be sitting in mid-table. We have brought in six new players who are all under 22 years of age and it takes time to finalise team formations. It will take two or three years for these boys to adapt to this level of football - in four weeks it is impossible.

"Gary Jardine and myself have chosen this road to introduce young players so that is our responsibility. Hopefully people will see what we are trying to achieve. The quality of teams in the Premier Division this season is the best it has been and we are going to have to learn and learn quickly both on the coaching ground and in competitive games.

"We are on the right tracks and we do not want to hurry our young players to fulfil their potential.

City have 19-year-old Andrew Stobie, on loan from East Fife, in goals and he is in exceptional form while Ryan Wilson, also 19, is showing great form up front. "We have competition for places and overall I am happy the way things are going although I would prefer more points on the board."

The action kicks off at 2.30 pm and admission is 4 for adults and 1 for concessions.