Lovat head to Kinlochshiel in MacAulay Cup
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The Artemis MacAulay Cup takes centre stage tomorrow with eight first-round ties.
Premiership leaders Lovat take on the holders Kinlochshiel at Kirkton with the Kiltarlity club striving to lift the trophy they last won in 1953.
Manager Fraser Gallacher watched his side crash out of the competition at the semi-final stage in the last four seasons is quietly confident that his side can get past the Wester Ross club
“After meeting Kingussie on successive Saturday’s this is another tough challenge,” he said.
“We will have to be at our best once again but we have a decent record at Kirkton and we have beaten ‘Shiel twice already this season. “But this will be different and they are getting back to their best form and they have the cup to defend - so we are under no illusions”.
Lovat captain Calum Cruden has shaken off the virus which saw him start the Kingussie match from the bench and Graeme MacMillan is also expected to return.
Playmaker Lorne MacKay is free from suspension and could come back into the starting 12.
Caberfeidh and Skye meet at Castle Leod with Cabers favourites to take their place in the last four. Manager Jodi Gorski hopes to name a full strength squad
Kingussie, who are record winners of the trophy face Lochaber at Spean Bridge while Newtonmore head to Kilmallie who they beat 5-0 in the MacTavish Cup first round.
The Sutherland Cup reaches the second round stage and the match of the day is at Castle Leod where Caberfeidh reserves meet Strathglass reserves. Lovat and Glenurquhart are on their travels as they face Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray respectively.
In the only match taking place in the National League, Strathglass face Beauly at Cannich.
Both sides are seeking their first league points of the season.
Strathglass will go into the league clash as narrow favourites after defeating Beauly in a recent MacTavish Cup tie.
Beauly will be missing Dan Lamont and Greg Tillman who were both injured in last Saturday’s Balliemore Cup defeat at Aberdour.
