Those of us of a certain vintage can remember the days when Kilmarnock were genuine trophy contenders and the games between the clubs had a huge bearing on the destination of the league flag. The Killie of today are not such formidable opponents but neither are they likely to roll over and play dead so PLG will have to make sure his men are on their toes. No repeat of the Dunfermline shambles, please.
Last week's performance against Hearts was first class and, although the midweek injury to Burkey (the less said about that game they better!) will force Le Gaffer to change things, I'm expecting more of the same. With Sionko in for Burke, the change in personnel should be seamless and I'm ready to stick a score on Boydie for the first goal. He is sure to be up for this one and, as he too is a local lad, he will be playing for more than just his bonus money.
Clearly our defence has yet to settle down. We are screaming out for a big dominant centre-half, a no-nonsense first to the ball man - oh for a fully fit Marvin Andrews! - and if Sasa Papac is the answer to our problems, Martin Bain should get his finger out and show us he is worth his half-a-million quid salary by making it happen.
This week's European draws have commanded much attention and, like so many others, I spent Friday surfing the internet checking out a million and one different ways of getting to Molde. Rangers will surely win this one, then there will be some tasty trips to look forward to in the group stage but, Hampden final or not, our priority for this season has to be the recapture of the SPL title. Any Bear who says he didn't feel a pang of jealousy when the Champions League draw was being made is a downright liar…and if we are to be in there with the big boys next time around, we must be able to take games against the likes of Kilmarnock in our stride.
Nobody needs to tell me you get nothing for being top of the league in August but I'd much rather be leading the way than playing catch-up. Mind you, things are so tight at the moment, if results go a certain way on Saturday, with Sellick, St.Mirren, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Hearts winning, we would go into Sunday's game in sixth place!!! That would, of course, change dramatically with another Gers victory. Get in there!
This has always been a fixture where it tends to be a wee bit easier to lay your hands on a ticket. If you don't get one from official sources, there are plenty of Killie fans who are prepared to help out, just so long as you are prepared to sit tight and play dumb. Recent years have, however, seen the irritating appearance of the Bear-spotter, the local tosser who has nothing better to do than look for Rangers fans in the main stand, then go running to a steward if the Bear so much as smiles when the Gers score.
Oh how different it is from the days when we all climbed aboard the A1 bus at Dreghorn, travelled to the game together, stood side-by-side on the terracing and exchanged nothing more menacing than some sharp-witted patter. All-seated stadiums, police insistence on segregation and an influx of 'overspill' population into Ayrshire have changed the climate considerably and the influence of former Killie chairman Bobby Fleeting, who hired Tommy Burns as manager and invited local Septic fans to adopt Killie as their second team, didn't help either.
Suddenly the local Beggars spoke of 'having a foot in both camps' and, although Burns inevitable defection back to the Piggery ended that particular love-in, an enduring anti-Rangers element still lurks around Rugby Park. So whatever reasons Rangers may have for producing something extra special this weekend, they can do us Ayrshire Bears a big favour by putting one of two mouthpieces in their place.
And the music to be heard in the pubs and clubs on Sunday night might have a somewhat familiar ring to it.
KILLIE BILLY