Michael Leask has called on Forfarshire to use their derby demolition job as a springboard to a top-three finish.
With Grange and Heriot’s fighting for the title, Leask and Co are placed handily to be crowned “best of the rest.”
In the wake of their crushing success against Arbroath, the Broughty Ferry boys go into battle with Aberdeenshire at Mannofield.
And on the evidence of recent results and performance level, it is hard to see anything other than an away win.
Scotland all-rounder Leask said: “We are in pretty good shape at the moment, as our display last weekend underlined.
“We completed the league double over Arbroath, which in itself is notable.”
Leask added that Shire will be looking for more heroics from batsman Craig Wallace and bowlers Christian Robertson and Scott Cameron in the last four matches of the campaign.
He stated: “Wally’s century against Arbroath was quite amazing – he simply took the game away from them.
“Then with the new ball, Christian and Scott ripped the heart out of them with pace and accuracy.
“The whole team are starting to go places and we just need to be consistent.”
Pacesetters Grange could be tested at Raeburn Place, where RHC Lions are the visitors.
Heriot’s entertain basement boys Glenrothes, so any wobbles from Grange are likely to be exploited by their neighbours as they desperately try to cling to their champions mantle.
The most keenly contested encounter could be at Lochlands as Arbroath and Watsonians will strive to prove they should not be languishing in the lower half of the table.
Carlton, who were leapfrogged by Forfarshire last weekend, will expect to be victorious over Stew-Mel at Inverleith.
TOP meets bottom at Meikleriggs this afternoon in a match of massive importance to Ferguslie and Dumfries.
For leaders Ferguslie victory could be enough to see them clinch their first Western Premier title while defeat for Dumfries would see the Nunholm men slip closer towards the relegation trapdoor.
Neither club, though, is taking such an outcome for granted with the Paisley team focused merely on securing the first of two wins which would make the title an absolute certainty and Dumfries refusing to throw in the towel.
While victory today, coupled with a Clydesdale defeat, would see his team crowned champions Jamey Carruthers, the Ferguslie captain, said: “As things stand we need to win two of the remaining matches to win the league without looking at other results.
“We will simply focus on trying to win a tough match against Dumfries and look to continue our good form.”
Dumfries chairman Andy Reed said: “Taking on Ferguslie will be a big challenge – indeed all our remaining matches will be a challenge – but we are looking to take points from them all.
“The season has been a challenge for Dumfries especially losing fixtures against teams around us in the league to bad weather and pitch conditions – it is a truly unique season where we have played the least fixtures of anyone in the league.
“We remain determined to retain our place in the division although we know results elsewhere will continue to have an impact.
“On our day we can cause upsets and we hope to do that at Ferguslie.”
The home side are at full strength but Dumfries travel without two experienced campaigners in Scott Beveridge and Stuart Corbet-Byers.
Meanwhile Clydesdale will attempt to delay Ferguslie’s celebrations with victory over West of Scotland at Titwood. The southside club came out on top in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season but can take nothing for granted against a West team who could yet be dragged into the basement dogfight.
Ayr currently occupy the second relegation place and they will bid to build on their morale-boosting win at West a fortnight ago when they visit local rivals Prestwick.
A win for Ayr would increase the pressure on third bottom Greenock who face a tricky trip to Uddingston. The visitors are boosted by the return of Jon Hempsey but Harry Briggs misses out.
Third top Stirling entertain a Poloc side who hand first starts of the season to Lewis James who has returned from a spell in Australia while Adil Ghaffar is back from university in England.
