TOMORROW’S trip to face Rossvale, and next Saturday’s home game against Cambuslang Rangers, are both vital matches in Port Glasgow’s bid for promotion.

But the buzz around Parklea this week is more to do with the draw for the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup, which saw the Port given a home tie against Ayrshire giants Auchinleck Talbot.

The 10-times winners of the national trophy will come to Port Glasgow on Saturday 17 January, and assistant manager Scott Jackson says everyone at the club can’t wait for the big occasion.

He said: “It is a fantastic draw for the club, and it has brought an extra spring to our steps this week.

“It will be a great experience for our younger players, but it mustn’t be forgotten that we have some experienced players of our own, for whom facing the likes of Auchinleck will be nothing new.

‘’For example, Paul Coyle, Eddie Walton and Gus Gault will have played Auchinleck not that long ago while they were at Largs Thistle, so although it is obviously a huge challenge for us, we are certainly not going into the tie just to make up the numbers.’’ First, though, come the vital league games both before and during the festive period. Tomorrow’s opposition, Rossvale, have been the surprise package in the Central League Second Division this season, and currently sit second in the table, just a point behind Cambuslang but with two games in hand.

A change of manager has re-invigorated the north Glasgow club, who play their home fixtures on the artificial surface of Petershill Park.

But the biggest influence has been the signing of former Aberdeen star Robbie Winters. Winters also has one Scotland cap, when he appeared as a substitute in the 1–0 friendly win against Germany in 1999.

Despite celebrating his 40th birthday last month, the striker has been banging in the goals for Rossvale, and will no doubt be a handful for the Port defence if he is in the Rossvale line-up tomorrow.

Jackson added: “It is clear that Robbie has not just gone to Rossvale to see out his career, but is obviously intent on doing a job for them.

“But we will be well fired up for the game, and by tomorrow all thought of the Auchinleck game will be on the back burner.

“At the start of the season our aim was just to keep in the hunt for the promotion places, and that’s exactly where we are, so we are happy with the progress being made.

“But there’s no doubt that tomorrow’s game, and next week’s against current leaders Cambuslang, will have a big bearing on us maintaining that challenge.’’ The Port had only 13 fit players for last week’s Scottish Cup tie at Dyce, but the situation has now improved considerably, with Paul Gordon and Scott Nugent having served out their suspensions.

And there was more good news this week, with Kearn Docherty and Mark Bowie back in training after their recent injury woes, with both now in contention for an appearance tomorrow.

Kick-off at Petershill Park is at 1.45pm.

Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, and MAC HSL Ltd.