West Lothian confident their young guns will fire at Renfrew

WEST Lothian president Andy Carver has backed his young guns to boost their prospects of emerging as chief challengers to Dumfries for the title.

The third-placed Linlithgow outfit this weekend make the trip to Renfrew, who lie in second spot.

And Carver believes their chances of victory won't be significantly affected by the absence of two of their leading lights. He said: "We are without the services of strike bowler Anthony McKenna and veteran keeper-batsman Dave Fleming for one of the biggest matches of the season.

"However, our pro Kruger van Wyk has been masterminding our youth policy and we are taking the opportunity to blood a couple of our more promising juniors.

"Kruger has done a magnificent job at Boghall and I think these lads will fit in well."

Carver added: "It has all the makings of an excellent match, as long as the weather relents. I think we are no beginning to pay for the fact that the elements were kind to cricket in the first half of the campaign!

"It would be great to have the chance to find out where we stand in terms of the strength in depth of our squad."

Pacesetters Dumfries, meanwhile, face an awkward journey to Fife to square up to a Freuchie brigade who have suffered for their lack of consistency in recent weeks.

Freuchie have shown they can live with the best, but their big problem has been a failure to string together good performances and results.

Two of the divison's other two encounters take place in the capital. A couple of weeks ago, a resurgent Ferguslie would have been rated much too strong for SMRH.

The arrival of pro Jon Kent, however, has added a fresh dimension to the Inverleith set-up, with both bat and ball.

Imans Edinburgh will start as favourites against Kelburne, while RH Corstorphine are aiming for revenge when they lock horns with Weirs at Albert Park.