Rivals all set for derby cracker

And while the match may not have the global appeal of the weekend’s other ‘Clasico’ betweeen Real Madrid and Barcelona, rival bosses George Shaw and Keith Hogg believe their players will be just as fired up as Messi, Ronaldo & co.

Adding spice to the occasion, both sides are in the hunt for promotion.

Kilsyth, whose game at Clydebank on Saturday was called off, top the Super League First Division table while Cumbernauld are just four points behind in sixth place following their win at Renfrew.

United boss Shaw said: “They shouldn’t need motivated. It’s a derby.

“They are at the top of the league, and quite rightly so, and have done very well. But on our day we’ll give anybody a game in that league.”

Meanwhile Kilsyth boss Hogg reads nothing into the fact that Kilsyth ran out 4-1 winners in the Sectional League Cup clash between the sides at Duncansfield in August.

He said: “They were only just getting their squad back together.

“A derby’s a derby and to really know the true meaning behind a derby is understanding your club and I’ve got the local guys there that know exactly what Kilsyth’s all about.”

Kick-off at Duncansfield, weather permitting, is at 1.45pm and the Cumbernauld supporters’ bus will leave Guy’s Meadow at 12.25pm and the town centre at 12.30.

More on Saturday’s derby at www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk