Buckie can leapfrog Cove and go back to the top of the Highland League table on goal difference with a home win against Deveronvale this afternoon.
Jags’ manager Graeme Stewart watched Deveronvale’s midweek game against Inverurie Locos and said: “I picked up a few things watching a very young Vale side against Locos. It is all about what we do, but we have to remember we were recently beaten 1-0 at Huntly so there are definitely no easy games. It’s a derby and Vale have two or three former Buckie players in their ranks who will be keen to get one over us.
“The mood is very positive and we had a really good 6-0 win against Keith last weekend. Cove drew at Turriff so the players are on a high as we believe the destination of the title is now in our hands.”
Deveronvale’s Keith-bound goalkeeper Grant Pennet suffered a cut to his face in Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Inverurie with former Rothes number one Matthew Mackie likely to be between the sticks at Victoria Park.
Third-placed Brora Rangers will try to keep their own title hopes alive when a resurgent Huntly are this afternoon’s Dudgeon Park visitors.
Brora manager Ross Tokely said: “I told the players at training this week we are looking for three wins, three clean-sheets and as many goals as we can score. We’re in good scoring form and we want to keep it up.”
Huntly co-manager Andy Roddie said: “The teams at the top now know what we are capable of, the 1-0 win against Buckie Thistle proved that it wasn’t just a matter of chance. Hopefully we can give another good account of ourselves.”
Brora attacker Paul Brindle is making good progress after his recent groin operation but the Huntly trio of captain and forward Gary McGowan and midfielders Ross Still and Paul Napier, are all ruled out through injury.