LONG-serving striker Ben Lewis is confident Kilwinning Rangers can safeguard their Premier Division status as they gear up for another a second successive playoff.

Lewis (25) was in the side who saw off Shettleston in last season's Premier Division playoff to win them promotion to the top flight.

But this time they are considered strong favourites as the top-flight side against a Kilsyth team, who clinched a playoff spot after securing third place in the Super First Division with a 3-1 home win against Irvine Victoria.

The first leg is at Duncansfield Park tonight (Wednesday) with Kilsyth visiting Abbey Park for the return leg on Friday night.

Lewis (25), who has been at Abbey Park for eight years said: "We go into the game on form after beating Pollok to more or less make it to the playoffs and then Auchinleck Talbot away to make sure."

The striker is surprised that his side have struggled in the league given some of their other results.

He added: "We beat one of the Scottish Cup favourites Kelty Hearts away but our league form has not been good. If only we had results like that in some of the league games we might not have been struggling. But we have a good squad and it's encouraging to see young players coming through, like John Monan, who scored his first goal at Auchinleck last week. I was 17 when I broke through."

Looking ahead to the match Lewis said: "We've no doubt it will be a tough tie, Kilsyth will be confident after a good season. But our target is to win both ties. If we can get a victory on Wednesday we will be in a more comfortable position on Friday night. We did well to secure promotion last season and we want to stay in the Premier Division although we always knew it would be a tough first season.

"If we get through this we can go into the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot with confidence and hopefully we can make the final."

Meanwhile Irvine Victoria are hoping to make two new signings after their season ended at Kilsyth.

Manager Stevie Wilson said: "Graeme Anderson, a left-back from Shortlees Ams has done well in the last few games and hopefully we can sign him up. Dylan Hamilton, a left-back and left-midfielder from Irvine Town has also played well and we could bring him in too."

Wilson is optimistic despite his team's relegation back to the District League.

He said: "Kilsyth were another team who said they can't believe we are in the position we are in. But we will have a break and get back for pre-season training. Hopefully we can bounce straight back up again next season."