IF classy midfielder Colin Spence is to be believed, the omens are looking good for Auchinleck Talbot getting their hands on the Scottish Citylink Junior Cup for an eighth time.

The flame-haired playmaker is well placed to venture an opinion after being an integral part of the Talbot squad that last held aloft the Junior football's Holy Grail in 2006 with a 2-1 victory over Bathgate Thistle.

Speaking after Tuesday's fourth round draw that paired the Ayrshire cracks with Dundee Violet, he said: "There's more than a touch of deja vu about facing Violet hard on the heels of us knocking out Bo'ness United and Fauldhouse United in the previous rounds.

"They are all teams we beat on our way to winning the cup in 2006 and I find it hard to put it all down to a quirk of coincidence.

"If it is then maybe there's every chance our name is on the trophy again."

The 24-year-old revealed how he came within a signature of being reinstated to lowly Carluke Rovers instead of Tommy Sloan's side.

He enjoyed a meteroic rise at Gretna where he was named Player of the Year in his first season after joining from Bonnyton Boys Club.

But Raydale Park gaffer Rowan Alexander opted to flesh out his side with big name players, freezing out youngsters like Spence.

Alexander tried to offload him to Carluke, but Spence dug in his boots over a move to Ayrshire.

He said: "I signed for Auchinleck and we duly won the Scottish Cup and Super Premier League title in my first season."

Spence's 2006 delight was tinged with dismay after he was demoted to the substitutes bench for the cup semi and final, despite figuring in gaffer Sloan's starting IX for all of Talbot's earlier round ties.

Having recently forced himself into the manager's selection thoughts, he is determined to avoid a repeat disappointment.

"Tommy has brought me back in for the past six or seven games and I couldn't be happier," he admitted.

"Obviously there is strong competition for the jerseys, but I'm desperate to hold down a place and try to help us go on a winning run like we did back in 2006.

"If we can, then bookmakers who have written off our title chances may have to think again."

In the meantime, Spence is focused on making up the ground between Leck and the teams above them in the Super Premier, starting this weekend against Glenafton.

In other Super Premier contests taking place, bottom markers Neilston will be without suspended skipper Andy Whiteford for their trip through to face Rob Roy.

And a tense affair is guaranteed at Fullarton Park where the other Super Premier new boys Vale of Clyde go head-to-head with basement rivals Cumnock.

Indiscipline has cost the Tin Pail dearly - as well as a heap of points - as they look to consolidate their place at the top flight table.

Not for the first time this season they finished with depleted numbers following Thomas Sinclair's dismissal in last weekend's 4-1 defeat by Petershill.

Sinky and Paul McLaughlin are outstanding players, but too often they let themselves and team-mates down so they need to curb the dissent which has seen them fall foul of referees.

Possibly the chance to put one over former Stenhousemuir gaffer Campbell Money will act as added motivation for Sinky as the Vale look to rack up only their third Super Premier win.