MAJID Haq admitted he is relishing the opportunity to have a joust with former Scotland team-mate Jan Stander.
Haq takes his RHC outfit northwards to face Stander and Co at Stoneywood-Dyce.
And the meeting of the two ex-international chums will be a match within a match. Haq declared: “Stoneywood are always a gritty bunch of guys, especially on their own Peoples Park turf.
“They play aggressively and as a unit. It is great to see Jan back performing for them and I am really looking forward to our contest.”
Maj called for an improved showing from his line-up in the wake of last weekend’s narrow defeat in a low-scoring tussle with Watsonians. He added: “We were much better in midweek when we got the better of Sonians in the T20 game.
“Several batsmen had time in the middle, which should stand them in good stead for the weekend.”
Meanwhile, another erstwhile Scotland ace – Matty Parker – is convinced Arbroath can establish momentum following their first success of the campaign at the expense of Aberdeenshire.
The Lochlands men lock horns with Carlton in the capital and Parker – now back with his boyhood club following a nine-year spell with Tayside rivals Forfarshire – believes they will go into battle with confidence.
He stated: “It was a big relief to get off the mark, especially with a few inexperienced lads in the side.
“I am thoroughly enjoying being back at Lochlands, but I also have fantastic memories of my time at Broughty Ferry.
“I can’t speak highly enough about what they are doing there. They have started superbly in the league and I fully expect them to keep up that level of performance and be right up there come the end of the season.”
It would be a big surprise if Forfarshire did not make the most of home advantage this afternoon when Watsonians are the visitors.
Elsewhere, champions Grange make the short hop to Inverleith, where Stew-Mel await.
And Heriot’s will be strong favourites to deal with struggling Aberdeenshire at Mannofield.
