THE scenario could be perfect for scriptwriters of that Aussie soap

opera, Home and Away. Douglas Park, home of Hamilton Academical and digs

of Clyde FC, is the stage.

The two meet today, but because of convention, or other such daft

reasons, Clyde will have the home dressing room because they are the

home team. Hamilton will be in the away quarters. Managers Alex Smith

and Iain Munro have similar situations out on the edge of the park, with

Smith in the home bothy, and Munro as part of the visiting delegation

just down the track.

Clyde's leader Smith reckons his club's move to Cumbernauld will make

a difference purely from the training point of view. They have been

nomads for seven seasons and, while the manager appreciates the help

they have received from Firhill and Douglas Park since their Shawfield

days, he said yesterday: ''What a difference having our own ground will

make.'' Being at the foot of the first division, that situation cannot

come quickly enough.

On the playing front, Munro will have new signing Paul Fitzpatrick as

sweeper, with Crawford Baptie at the heart of his defence, while leg

injuries to Steve Clarke and Danny McGill delay Smith's line-up.

Clydebank are enjoying leadership of the division, but know that

Morton also enjoy football in the way of the purists. That's what makes

today's clash at Kilbowie intriguing. And with Scott Murdoch possibly

back for Clydebank, and Morton bringing midfielder Alex McEwan into

their squad, who would bet against Clydebank making it six straight

wins?

Dunfermline's hopes of continuing their recent success after a bad

start to the season may depend on whether or not forward George O'Boyle

is fit for the trip to meet Stirling Albion at Forthbank.

John Brogan's Albion have surprised a few folk so far this season --

possibly even himself. Mungo McCallum, Ian McInnes, and Willie Watters

are back in the squad.

Falkirk, just down the road, face a vital match against Airdrie after

last week's 4-0 home defeat by Clydebank.

Alex MacDonald reports an all-fit Airdrie squad, while Jim Jefferies

has an injury worry about Tommy McQueen, while Joe McLaughlin, Kevin

Drinkell, and Scott Sloan come into the reckoning.

St Mirren manager Jimmy Bone still refuses to panic, despite not

having won a League game so far this season, and also having a long list

of injuries, particularly two experienced players. ''Some team will be

given a severe hiding soon,'' he said, adding that fitness tests today

would decide his final line-up against Dumbarton at Love Street.

And Ayr United, despite injury problems, have made an excellent start

to the season, but must travel to the other end of the country to face

Ian Redford's Brechin side.