West Lothian face tough test of title aspirations

ARE they genuine champions elect? West Lothian, self-belief burgeoning as they enter Round 11 of the SNCL Championship still undefeated - albeit having completed just four matches - put their aspirations on the line at Boghall today against third-placed Weirs.

Skipper Andy Raven sits out a first-team match for the first time in 12 years, replaced by seamer Gregor Thomson, yet another promising product of the Boghall youth programme, with pro Kruger van Wyk assuming the captaincy.

Weirs, despite successive victories over Dumfries and Stenhousemuir, have major selection headaches. Broken thumb victims Siggy Young and Shaun Els are definitely missing, and club president Craig Greenwood is not extending last week's comeback beyond one match and 48 runs, although wicketkeeper Danny Ferry returns. The batting battle between respective South African pros van Wyk, yet to be dismissed in the league, and Ruan du Plessis could be pivotal.

Commitment to youth development at Poloc is also reaping benefits, as the Glasgow southsiders, currently in second slot, travel to Nunholm with four home-reared Under 19s in Danial Chaudry, brother Bilal, Craig Young and Nicky Lafferty. Shawholm resolve, though, will be seriously tested by a Dumfries outfit belatedly finding some form and boosted by last week's commanding wins over East Kilbride in the league and local rivals St Michael's in the SCU Trophy quarter-finals. Veteran all-rounder Davie Davidson is recalled.

East Kilbride, damaged by successive defeats, face a tricky trip to the Tryst and a Stenhousemuir side similarly smarting from three straight losses. "Once again last week we suffered from that same bug that's been plaguing us - batting collapses," said EK spokesman David Healy. "129 all out in just 32.5 overs. Criminal."

The Torrance House cause is further hampered by serious selection problems, with key players Ross Lyons, Craig Smith, Alastair Dalgleish and Umair Saeed all unavailable. Head coach Matthew Kellett and Steven Mann step up, and there's a second SNCL outing for 15-year old batting prospect Gavin Meikle.

Stenhousemuir, now in the bottom three, continue to look light in frontline batting, a situation compounded by Ian Philip's return to Australia, but a big knock is surely overdue from pro Rushdi Jappie.

Renfrew, hoping to make up ground lost in last week's one-run defeat at Whitehaugh, have skipper Sai Majeed doubtful with a hamstring injury but restore Adil Hussain for Wasim Khan for the visit of a Freuchie side with on eye firmly on Sunday's Village Cup tie in Barnsley against Houghton Main. The Fifers are without keeper Michael Jackson and opener Alan Wallace but, intriguingly, introduce former Mumbai Indians batsman Imran Khan.

Seamer Gordon Allan returns for RH Corstorphine in place of unavailable David Ross for the derby visit of similarly unpredictable SMRH, who bring in Iain Mackie and TJ Beattie for Matt Coyle and Sarmad Ahmed.

Elsewhere, mid-table Kelburne have skipper Jamie Macdonald and opener Andy Robin back for the visit to Newfield to face Dan Rixon and Edinburgh Accies, while Falkland welcome Penicuik to Scroggie Park.