Neil Speirs back to boost West Lothian's Scottish Cup hopes

Neil Speirs returns for West Lothian against Alloa

Speirs, 38, who has recovered from a leg injury, starts in the position of third rather than his natural place at skip.

Grant Knox, a gold-medal winner at the 1986 Games, has re-emerged from the shadows this season and takes his place in the WL team for a match which pits the Clackmannanshire outfit – recently relegated from the Premier League – against their promoted opponents.

West Lothian:

Rink 1: Scott Logan, Ian Drysdale, Neil Speirs, Thomas Mann.

Rink 2: Richard Mark, Raymond Logan, Craig Moss, Mark Allison.

Rink 3: Bryan Cooper, Grant Knox, Stuart Johnston, James Speirs.

Rink 4: Cameron Greer, Blair Mackie, Des Hagart, Calum Logan.

Midlothian IBC last etched their name on the cup back in 2004 but have a team strong enough to bridge that gap. However, their second-round test is a tough one in the shape of fellow top-flight club Lanarkshire. However, the presence of world stage stars Ronnie Duncan, Colin Walker, David Peacock and Graeme Archer gives a powerful look to the Midlothian team.

Midlothian:

Rink 1: Andrew Caldwell, John Stevenson, Lindsay Plenderleith, Colin Walker.

Rink 2: Ian Forbes, Ian Fleming, Scott Briggs, David Peacock.

Rink 3: Jamie Macnab, Jim Cullen, AJ Knight, Billy Peacock.

Rink 4: Scott Runciman, Craig Hodge, Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Archer.

Bainfield would love to  emulate their title triumph of 2008 and their prospects of making it into the quarter- finals look reasonably good.

Elgin provide the opposition for the Edinburgh outfit at  Arbroath and the Division 1 team, who finished second to West Lothian in their league, will be no pushovers.

Bainfield have yet to confirm their line-up.