Stirling will hope to have the chance to make their mark on the top flight in the west at last after weather put paid to their first two fixtures and the New Williamfield side can take their lead from today's visitors who have already claimed two big scalps.
Stuart Corbett-Byers, the Dumfries captain, admits he was unsure what to expect when his side took their place in the new domestic structure, but was pleasantly surprised when they opened with a resounding win at Greenock and almost ecstatic when they followed-up with an equally convincing win against a highly-fancied Clydesdale outfit.
He said: "I would say beating Clydesdale is the best result in the club's history. We deliberately played things down when we overcame Greenock but beating the team that many rate favourites for the title has taken things to a new level."
He stresses that feet will remain firmly on the ground against a Stirling side who benefit this season from the coaching and motivational skills of Tony Judd and who have, in Josh Edwards and Nick Farrar, two of the most promising talents in the country.
Drumpellier v West of Scotland
Drumpellier too have been frustrated by the rain but the last of three scheduled home fixtures will surely go ahead. Again like Stirling, the Coatbridge side entertain a team with two wins on the board and aiming to maintain impressive momentum under their new player-coach John Blain. Drumpellier may be short of 50-over action but they are unbeaten in the T20 format and Graeme McLaren, the captain, and his players take heart from a midweek Murgitroyd Rowan Cup success against Kelburne.
Clydesdale v Ayr
Clydesdale are on the rebound from last week's surprise loss at Dumfries and skipper Zeeshan Bashir will demand a positive response. His side have already put one over on today's opponents in a Rowan Cup fixture last Sunday but Ayr will focus on the positives from their league success against Greenock. The Titwood outfit welcome back Kasim Farid and Lyle Hill but Ayr are still without their professional Craig Thyssen who has yet to arrive from South Africa. The visitors could, though, give a debut to Scotland Under-19 pace bowler Stan Shillington who has joined the club.
Uddingston v Greenock
Uddingston are bidding to get their title challenge back on course following last weekend's below-par display against West of Scotland. They have Gavin Bradley back to bolster the middle order and provide the captain Calum MacLeod with another bowling option. MacLeod's personal joust with Richie Berrington, his Saltires team-mate, provides an intriguing sub-text. Greenock seek a first win after losses to Dumfries and Ayr.
EASTERN PREMIER DIVISION
Arbroath v Forfarshire
Arbroath aim to mark the start of their 125th anniversary celebrations by beating their Angus rivals Forfarshire at Lochlands today and again tomorrow in their Twenty20 tournament which also features Dundee HSFP. Geoff Fisher, their president, said: "We are looking forward to the competition, and also to the other big celebration event at the end of the season when we take on a Cricket Scotland Select."
Arbroath are still without opening batsman and spinner Ross McLean, who needs a further week to shake off the effects of an ankle injury. Broughty Ferry-based Forfarshire call up Dale Sweeney in place of their experienced seamer Graham Quinn, who has a back problem.
Carlton v Stoneywood-Dyce
Carlton will be without their international all-rounder Preston Mommsen for the home tussle with Stoneywood-Dyce following his call-up by Leicestershire for their County Championship game against Kent at Canterbury, and Toby Bailey, the Carlton coach, says the club should share the honour.
"It is great news for Preston and great news for Carlton, coming so soon after Ally Evans earned a deal with Derbyshire," he said. "Preston fully deserves his chance to play county cricket; he's a model professional and trains extremely hard." Carlton will also be without Jamie Kerr and Stevie Gilmour, so Kyle Macpherson, Matt Wells and Cheeky Gosain come in.
Watsonians v Heriot's
Heriot's suffered one of the most humbling defeats in their history at the hands of Stoneywood-Dyce last weekend at Aberdeen when they were without a host of front-line players. They will field a much stronger line-up today as they bid to bounce back but they will be up against a home outfit brimming with top-flight talent, especially in the batting department.
Aberdeenshire v Grange
Aberdeenshire are the only side whose campaign has not been blighted by the elements, and they have taken full advantage by winning both times. Star-studded Grange will start as slight favourites at Mannofield even though they have yet to taste league action.
