EXPERIENCED defender Barry Fleeting hopes to help Kilwinning Rangers regain the Scottish Junior Cup after they blasted into the last 16.

But he is putting all thoughts of success firmly on the back burner as the Abbey Park host his former side Troon in a basement battle on Saturday.

A first half goal from Sam McCloskey and a late second half penalty from former Pollok midfielder/striker Carlo Monti paved the way for victory.

Fleeting (33), in his fifth season with the Kilwinning club, was impressed with the performance, which followed on back-to-back home league defeats against Arthurlie and Kilwinning Rangers.

He said: "I felt we played really well on Saturday and the victory should give us a real confidence boost. We took our goals well and Carlo Monti sealed it with the penalty. He is a good addition to the squad, has a lot of pace and can play behind the frontmen or upfront."

Buffs last year went all the way to the semi-finals of the national competition, losing to eventual winners Beith over two legs.

Fleeting is hopeful of doing even better this time around and added: "We had a great run last year but we left ourselves with too much to do in the second game against Beith. It would be great if we could get our hands on the trophy and would like a home draw.

However he is fully focused on the weekend as Buffs bid to get off bottom spot.

The Abbey Parkers are two points behind bottom side Largs Thistle, but with three games in hand. They are six points adrift of their weekend opponents, but have played three games fewer than the South Ayrshire side.

Fleeting said: "It's a very important game for us. We have been playing well in the league but just not taking our chances and have been losing some silly goals. It's a very important game for us.

"I know the Troon manager Gordon Burns well, having played with him there and both teams are struggling but we will be looking to take three points.

"It was always going to be difficult in our first season back in the Premier Division but the aim is consolidation and hopefully we can achieve that."

Buffs boss Chris Strain was pleased to progress in the cup and said: "This was a potential banana skin for us. I wasn't our best performance - we have played better and lost but the important thing was the result. We are one of only 16 teams left in the cup and the only one from North Ayrshire side left so of course have a chance of winning it but will have to improve."

Looking ahead to the Troon clash Strain said: "We have to earn the right to play pretty football. Now we have to start grinding out results, show a lot of guts and determination and get the three points at all costs."