MIDFIELD ace Colin Spence is quietly confident Irvine Meadow can get one over on his old side Arthurlie when they go head-to-head in a nailbiting two-legged showdown for a place in the Premier Division this week.

And manager Brian McGinty warns a big effort will be needed by his side as the two Junior giants gear up to meet in the Premier Division play-off at Meadow Park tomorrow (Wednesday) and Dunterlie Park in Barrhead on Friday night.

Meadow missed out on the chance of clinching automatic promotion on Sunday when Largs Thistle defeated Cumbernauld United 1-0 away from home to secure their berth in the top flight next season.

But Spence is now well up for the showdown and said: "Of course we would have liked to be promoted but it's more satisfying if you can achieve it on the park yourselves. I was at Arthurlie earlier in the season and they have some good players - the likes of Craig Buchanan and James Marks used to play for Meadow and will feel they have a point to prove. It will be a difficult game but we are on a great run of form and hopefully we can get through.

"There's a big change in Junior football with the new leagues coming in next season and we don't want to miss the boat, we want to make sure that we are in the Premier Division. We want to compete at the top level."

Added the former Auchinleck Talbot star: "At least I know the way they set up from having played there and hopefully that will be to our benefit."

McGinty is savouring what is one of the club's biggest games in years and said: "There's a big prize at stake. We just missed out on promotion but we still have an opportunity to go up. There's no doubt Arthurlie are the favourites because they are the Premier Division team. But we will prepare properly for it. We have been doing well but promotion is something we have to earn.

"The aim will be to win both ties to make sure we get through. I know we have done really well since we came in but it would be considered a failure if we were not promoted this season. We want to be competing in the top league."

Meanwhile Irvine Victoria hope soon to make some additions to their squad as they gear up for the forthcoming Championship campaign. They are in talks with existing players and have other targets in mind.