Rees wants to take home advantage

STIRLING County captain Phil Rees believes Ryan Watson will hold the key to success or failure when his side face Forfarshire at New Williamfield today.

Both teams have had a mixed start to their promotion quest and Rees is hoping that home advantage will at least equalise the threat which will be posed by the Saltires captain.

"Ryan is a pretty special player," said Rees. "He is the one Shire batsman we want to get rid of above any other and I am confident that if we put the shackles on him early we can get the win we crave.

Our bowlers, however, have a trick or two up their sleeves and it will be very interesting to see how things pan out."

The Taysiders will be without Robert Cannon, though Richie Gallagher and Tony Weed are back. Captain Peter Drummond said: "After our poor effort against West of Scotland, we are getting into a rhythm."

Arbroath look better equipped to deal with West at Hamilton Crescent this afternoon than Forfarshire were, while Freuchie enter their busiest phase of the season,

squaring up to struggling West Lothian at Linlithgow – then heading north for the Village Cup tussle with old rivals Kintore.

Aberdeenshire are at home to Drumpellier.