GREENOCK Juniors are anticipating a tough challenge as they get their Third Division campaign up and running after the festive break this weekend.

Nock are due to head to Rosebank Park in East Ayrshire to take on Lugar Boswell Thistle following the postponement of their match away to Finnart last Saturday.

Lugar‘s pitch is not the best for playing flowing football, so 'Nock will have to roll their sleeves up and battle it out.

The Ravenscraig side were in good form before the break (Image: alex craig) The 'Jaggy Bunnets' were promoted from the bottom tier after a superb second half of their 2023-24 campaign, though their league results so far this season have been quite mixed, with four wins, five draws and three defeats from their 12 games so far.

Their last three league matches have resulted in two stalemates - one against bottom club Wishaw, the other a thrilling 5-5 draw with Irvine Victoria - and a solid 3-1 win away to Girvan.

Currently sitting in 10th place, 12 points behind Greenock, they have also had some very good victories, notably against Greenock's fellow promotion candidates, Ardeer and Finnart.

In cup competitions, Lugar have beaten Cambuslang Rangers and Craigmark Burntonians, both of whom are in higher divisions, so they are very much a team that tick the 'hard to beat' box.

READ MORE: Greenock Juniors take positives from South Challenge Cup exit to Hill of Beath

Greenock’s last game before the festive break was a 4-0 loss to top East of Scotland Premier side Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

That was a scoreline that more than flattered the Fifers after Greenock were the better side in the second half, with the concession of two late goals rather embellishing the end result.

The squad is generally in good shape going to the weekend: Innes Lambert has a groin niggle and will miss the clash, and Scott Paterson will be missing, although is expected back at training next week.

Having rested over the festive period, captain Jamie Cunningham and vice-captain Ryan Corr are back in full training, which means only Cammy McPhee remains on the long term injury list.

Manager Gary Fleming is generally happy with where the squad are at present, after a disrupted few weeks over the festive period.

READ MORE: Community stalwart relives his 'goal-den' years as player and manager at Greenock Juniors

He said: “We’re really pleased with the general condition and fitness levels of the boys given the disruption to our normal training patterns.

"Individually the boys worked hard away from the training pitch as well as coming through some tough team sessions.

"We also competed very well in a friendly against Premiership opponents Largs.

"We are in a good place heading into Saturday against a very good Lugar side that have only lost three times in the league. They have an experienced management team that know the junior game very well.

Gary Fleming says he knows Greenock will have to be at their best to overcome a tricky Lugar side on Saturday. (Image: alex craig) "They are a team that know how to best exploit a tricky surface to full advantage.”

The game is very much weather-dependent, with temperatures set to remain around or below zero in East Ayrshire until the weekend; if the game does go ahead, kick-off at Rosebank Park (KA18 3LJ) on Saturday will be at 1.30pm.

Greenock are sponsored by Saveheat, Keystore Cowal View, Safer Group, The Lighthouse Bar, McGills, ARC and Blairs.