Largs Thistle boss Sandy MacLean has said the club must not underestimate Ayrshire District side Saltcoats Vics in this Saturday's West of Scotland 1st round cup match.

It is a 2pm kick-off at Campbell Park in the New Coin Holdings Cup but Thistle will be without 'maverick' midfielder Barry Stanton who has been sold to First Division rivals Greenock Juniors.

Sandy said: "Barri Stanton has played a significant role for Thistle in recent seasons including a scoring twice in the Ayrshire Cup Final, as well as a great strike against Ashfield in the promotion play-off. Barri has not had his problems to seek, and is a bit of a maverick, but it is the right time for Barri and the club to part."

For this weekend, Kevin Struthers is out with torn thigh muscle, and forward Willie McClure is still a few weeks away from returning due to a knee problem. Midfielder Stevie Kyle has a groin injury, as does Mark Murray who has not featured for several weeks.

Sandy said: "The West of Scotland Cup is the second biggest tournament and we want to progress as far as we can. We did well in the previous cup competition (semi-final defeat v Auchinleck in Ardagh Cup) and it could be construed as a break from the rigours of gathering points in the league, or it could also be seen as a massive banana skin.

"Saltcoats' form has been a bit up and down. We can't underestimate any club, and we expect a tough match, we don't know any other way at the minute, but I have always maintained that it is all about what we do and how we go out and perform.

"Most teams see us as a big scalp - and they might play their best game of the season against us - that is something we will have to guard against."

Reflecting on the Roy Roy defeat, Sandy said: "We have had three 1-0 home defeats in a row and how we have not scored in any of them is beyond me. The players have worked so hard in training and at some point, we have got to get the rub of the green. The spirit is good - they know they are working hard. How the Rob Roy goal was given I still do not know, as Creag Little was lying on the deck with a sore face, and the guy taps it in where Creag is usually positioned. I don't know how the officials missed it.

"We are still in this together - it is just we know at some point this has got to come for us."

It is the start of a double cup challenge for Largs who face East of Scotland superleague side Sauchie in the 2nd round of the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday October 25.

* Largs Thistle is hosting a Race Night fundraiser on Saturday October 25 at J.G Sharp's at 7.30pm.