"Same again boys." That will be the message from Arbroath skipper Fraser Burnett when they go into battle against Premiership champions Carlton with a fresh dose of confidence.

Burnett and his colleagues broke their league duck with a comprehensive success over Aberdeenshire at Mannofield - and is has challenged them to keep up the momentum at Lochlands.

The captain, who scored a marvellous century, said: "We want to carry on where we left off last weekend.

"We have never lost our self-belief and we are looking forward to getting the win we so badly want on our own turf."

Arbroath will still be without Calvin Burnett, who is hoping to get a start for Scotland at Cardiff. Kevin Ritchie is added to the squad.

The two "Shires" - Forfar and Aberdeen - have featured in some cracking encounters over the past few years and this afternoon's one is also shaping up well in the excitement stakes.

With both sides experiencing a roller-coaster season, there will be no clear-cut favourites at Mannofield - so the toss will be all-important.

Heriot's player-coach Kevin McLaren fears the social attraction of the club cricket scene is diminishing.

As he prepared for today's important tussle with Stoneywood-Dyce at Goldenacre, the former Greenock and Dunfermline star admitted he was disappointed with the absence of after-match camaraderie last weekend.

McLaren explained: "Only two Carlton players bothered to stay for a drink with our guys following the game.

"I have always believed that - win, lose or draw - you socialise with the opposition.

"When I was a youngster, I loved the banter and chat - especially with experienced Scotland guys like Bruce Patterson and Mike Smith, who would freely give batting advice in the bar.

"It wasn't as if there had been any aggro in the Carlton match which we won narrowly. It was just a bit sad that more of them opted not to hang around in their own clubhouse."

McLaren and Co are out for revenge today, having been hammered at Peoples Park earlier in the campaign.

The Heriot's cause that day wasn't helped by the fact that several leading lights were away watching Hearts win the Scottish Cup at Hampden!

The solidity of the Grange batting was underlined in their demolition job on Stoneywood-Dyce, but they will be up against a far more powerful Watsonians unit at Myreside.

Even so, the visitors will fancy their chances of earning a crucial haul of points at the expense of their capital rivals.