GREENOCK Wanderers are looking to keep their promotion push going tomorrow when they entertain old rivals Waysiders-Drumpellier at Fort Matilda.

The men from Langloan were promoted last season from National Three but have made a stuttering start to their campaign, with two wins and three losses recorded in five games.

Their two victories though have been impressive and an opening day triumph at Highland was followed up last weekend with a 38-8 victory at home to luckless Cambuslang.

Waysiders are coached by former West of Scotland RFC stalwart John Shaw and he will have his men well drilled. Wanderers are currently on the crest of a wave and another fine away performance last weekend saw a bonus-point victory being recorded against Glasgow Academicals.

The visitors have suffered some early season injuries which are now clearing and a strong side will head through from Lanarkshire tomorrow.

The 48-33 scoreline flattered the hosts as Wanderers took their foot of the gas in the final quarter and lost two scores, which made the final result appear less comfortable than it actually was.

Nonetheless the Wanderers sit proudly at the top of the league, six points clear of their nearest challengers and with the prospect of a home fixture tomorrow in front of what will be a large and vocal Fort Matilda support.

The competition in the Second Division now sees Wanderers as the team to beat.

There is no doubt that the locals have genuine championship credentials this season and, if that objective is to be achieved, then winning at home is paramount, as is regularly picking up the try-scoring bonus point.

Those lofty ambitions are clearly there at Fort Matilda, but nobody is prepared to mention the possibility of promotion or look too far ahead.

President Dougie Sloan said: "We are just quietly going about our business and if other teams or pundits want to start talking about Wanderers being favourites or championship contenders then that is up to them.

"I won't be getting involved in those conversations.

"Everyone from top to bottom at the club is focused on their job and our only objective is the weekly one of preparing properly for the next game and giving ourselves the best possible chance of winning it.

"We are looking forward to tomorrow's match and I hope that as many local supporters as possible will come along and encourage the team." Sloan is a devotee of the adage that hard work will eventually pay dividends and it certainly appears that good times are just around the corner for the Fort Matilda men.

Tomorrow's selection will show some slight tinkering, with Alan McMichael and Dougie Smith reinstated to the front row. Young prop Martin Lavelle's development will continue in the 1st XV squad and, although Smith and Jim McArthur will start the match, Lavelle will get game time as Wanderers look to fully utilise their powerful scrum, which is one of their most potent weapons.

Behind the pack half-backs Andy McDougall and Ant Devlin get another opportunity to extend their current run of fine form. Devlin kicked beautifully last weekend at New Anniesland and, as a partnership, this pair are gelling into a formidable unit. Skipper David "Cheesy" Watson and fellow winger Sean Connolly also caught the eye with secure defence and dangerous running with ball in hand and there is little doubt that, given a sniff of the line, they are more than capable of finishing from anywhere on the field.

Coach Bob Adams said: "We are expecting a hard game against Waysiders and there is no fear of complacency creeping into our psyche.

"The players know that what we have achieved so far means nothing unless we can keep it up throughout the rest of the campaign." The sky is blue at Fort Matilda these days with the only slight cloud on the horizon being the unfortunate news that star centre Brendan McGroarty looks likely to miss most of the season with a troublesome shoulder problem.

The hope was that rest over the close season would be enough to see the youngster back to full fitness but it now appears that an operation may be necessary.

McGroarty has been one of Wanderers' most outstanding performers over the last three seasons and he will be missed. If rehabilitation goes well, he could be around for the closing few weeks of the season when, hopefully, Wanderers will be chasing the title.

Tomorrow's game is the next challenge in that championship quest and a big crowd will converge on the Fort in expectation rather than hope that the locals can continue their current run of form and notch up their sixth league win in a row.

Greenock Wanderers v Waysiders at Fort Matilda, kick-off 3pm: D Watson (captain), J Smith, K Murray, D Murray, L Tyley, S Connolly, A Devlin, A McDougall, D Smith, A McMichael, J McArthur, M Lavelle, M Gray, M Duncan, A Abernethy, J Stewart, A Love, C Clark, C Robb.

● Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.