FRIENDSHIPS will be forgotten for 90 minutes on Saturday when Dalry Thistle take on Kilwinning Rangers in the opening round of the Scottish Junior Cup.

Thistle manager Gavin Friels will go head-to-head with Buffs counterpart and good friend Chris Strain Jnr as the North Ayrshire rivals clash.

Friels conceded Buffs are heavy favourites but insists his team will give it their best shot.

District League side Thistle go into the game on the back of their first victory of the season. They defeated Muirkirk 3-1 away from home in their last match while Buffs have lost three of their four opening games in the Super First Division.

Friels is looking forward to the showdown and said: “I was team-mates with Chris at Irvine Meadow and Ayr United and in fact was with him at the Testimonial brunch for Martyn Campbell at Somerset Park on Saturday. We will be friends whatever the result but during the game we will be focused on our teams. We are real underdogs. Kilwinning beat us heavily there last season although we only lost 3-0 to them in the Ardagh Cup so that was an improvement. They are a decent team and sure will come good. But I’m only thinking of my team and we will give it our best shot, the main aim is to be competitive in the tie and keep it even as long as possible. You never know what can happen in the cup. Everyone enjoys being involved and they are local rivals so hopefully we will take a few fans with us.” However Strain is fully prepared and warning his team to underestimate the Garnock Valley club at their peril.

Buffs will be hoping to bounce back from their narrow 3-2 home defeat against Super First Division leaders Kilsyth Rangers.

But while disappointed with the defeat Strain could still take positives from the performance and said: “We scored a couple of great goals but it’s too easy for other teams to score against us. We are giving away cheap goals and that concerns me, although we are creating so many chances and not taking them, so one of these days a team could be in for a doing. I am really hopeful that we will come good and can go on a run.

“But our form is not good so it will be a tough tie against Dalry and it’s a potential banana skin. I know their manager Gavin Friels well and used to play with him at Irvine Meadow, He has added a few players to his squad and they had their first win the other week. We will have to be at our best but if we play well hopefully we can go through.” Buffs defender Joe Coleman, who was red-carded for a two-footed challenge on Saturday is suspended. But everyone else is available.

Thistle’s local rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside will look to bounce back from their Premier Division defeat against Pollok as they head to Fife to take on Newburgh.

They will be heavily fancied to progress, Off-the-field Ladeside have launched an exciting new which allows fans to buy a brick for £20, inscribed with a message of your choice, to be erected on a permanent commemorative wall at Valefield Park.

Secretary Gordon Ronney said: “We hope that this will be of interest to current supporters, family of supporters who are no longer with us, ex players, bought as a great gift for birthdays and special occasions this will be our lasting legacy to future generations of Ladeside supporters.” Beith Juniors warmed up for Saturday’s Premier Division clash away to Irvine Meadow with a 5-0 victory against Neilston in a bounce game at Meadowside Park on Monday. Thomas Collins bagged a double and Darren Christie and Kenny McLean were also on target.

Assistant boss Stevie Convery said: “We had a good victory against Troon in our last game and will be looking for three points against Meadow.”