GREENOCK will have to put this week’s off-the-field controversies to one side tomorrow, as they return to Ravenscraig to face Kilsyth Rangers.

Anything less than maximum concentration will run the risk of a defeat along the lines of the last time the sides met, when Kilsyth emerged 3-1 victors after a Greenock performance described by manager Martin Campbell as ‘one of the worst of the season’.

Keeper Ryan McWilliams was sent off that day for denying a goalscoring opportunity, with his place in goal taken over by Mark Monk.

The very same scenario unfolded last week against Ardeer, with Monk unable to prevent the Ayrshire side from equalising from the penalty spot following McWilliams’ dismissal.

Ardeer went on to win with a late goal, but before then Monk had done well to keep them at bay, giving manager Campbell a selection dilemma for the keeper’s spot tomorrow, with McWilliams’ misdemeanour bringing about a fine rather than a suspension.

That is one of a few choices Campbell faces, as he looks set to freshen up the side he had remained loyal to as they hit a three-match winning streak which ended last weekend.

He said: “I generally don’t like to change a winning team, so to be fair to everyone, all options are back on the table after last week’s result. “Mind you, we had Ardeer on the rack and really should have gone on to pick up the three points.

“We spoke about that again at training on Wednesday, and about the need to get back on track straight away and get the points to give us some breathing space, well away from the relegation zone.’’ Tomorrow’s match looks set to be a tight affair, with Kilsyth currently in fifth place in the league table, one place above and just one point better off than Greenock.

But both clubs have played more fixtures than six of the sides below them, and with around a third of the season still to go, they will be well aware that even a short sequence of poor results could see them drop perilously close to the relegation area.

In addition to McWilliams, Barri Stanton was also red-carded last week, but his offence — foul and abusive language — does bring about a one-match ban, so he will have to sit out tomorrow.

Martin Dow is finally clear of his suspension, but is unavailable for work reasons, and the door could be opened for recent signing Barry McLaughlin to get back into the starting 11, after his appearance against Ardeer last week was limited to that of a substitute midway through the second half.

Kick-off at Ravenscraig is at 2pm.

Greenock Juniors are sponsored by SAVEHEAT, and the Lighthouse Bar.