Muirkirk Juniors boss Kevin Muirhead says he is expecting a “tough game” when his side take on Annbank United this Saturday.

Both clubs are level on points in Conference A of the West of Scotland Football League, having taken seven points from a possible nine.

Muirhead told the Chronicle: “Annbank have had a very positive start like ourselves.

“They got a new management team in over the summer and they have made some really positive signings.

“They have just signed Christian Nadé who I know from Hamilton Accies.

“He has bags of talent and a lot of experience and he’s a strong player to play against. They have also signed players from teams that have pulled out such as Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock.

“They started the season as dark horses and they have done very well so it’s going to be a really tough game but it’s one we are looking forward to.

Kirk go into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Eyemouth United in the second-round of the Soccer Shop Challenge Cup.

A brace from Gavin Hay and a goal from Fraser McDonald ensured Kirk avoided an upset as they eased through to the third-round.

Muirhead said: “We weren’t too aware of Eyemouth so we were just going off their previous results.

“They have not had the best of starts so we took it as an opportunity to rotate the squad and get players that have not really been involved into the starting 11.

“Kudos to them, they went in and did the business and showed us that we have strength and dept. It was 3-1 but could easily have been double figures.

“Our goalkeeper never touched the ball in the second-half which shows how dominant we were.

“I would have been delighted to have won by more but we are in to the next round and that’s what matters.”

He added: “It’s important to have a big squad due to the pandemic. I had a positive test for COVID-19 and just got back on Saturday.

“We have had players having to self-isolate for 14-days. It is like COVID-bingo as we are losing players all over the place.”