PREMIER Division leaders Fort William have five players out injured for tomorrow's MacAulay Cup quarter-final with Lochaber at An Aird, but welcome back brothers Paul and Chris Bamber.
Sidelined are James Clark, Drew Ferguson, Drew Howie, John Macleod and Neil Robertson while a sixth, full back Addie Robertson, is a serious doubt.
Fort manager Drew MacNeil reveals that he is considering applying to have James Clark, goalgrabbing hero of the last two Camanachd Cup finals, reinstated to play for their second team when he recovers from the hand injury which has kept him out for more than two months.
"James is so far behind the rest in match fitness, it makes sense to reinstate him so he can catch up", explains MacNeil.
“We brought in James Cameron last week and he did so well that he stays in the squad. He has similar skills to Clark and can be a big help."
Lochaber inflicted Fort's only league defeat when they beat them 2-1 in March, but their young side shipped 11 goals at Kingussie last week. But manager Ally Ferguson hopes the Spean Bridge side can cash in on Fort's injuries and complete a double.
Glenurquhart impressed with sheer energy levels when they dumped Kingussie in the televised Clash of the Camans final two weeks ago — but Ronald Ross missed that game and is back for their MacAailay quarter-final at The Dell.
John Barr, outstanding in the previous meeting, faces a tough test trying to pin down master marksman Ross, who has rattled in 30 goals in his last seven outings. But Kingussie will need to find a better solution to the drive of Eddie Tembo and pace of Neil Reid.
Inveraray, who now hold the Celtic Society Cup as well as the MacAulay Trophy, have an intriguing quarter-final against resurgent Kyles Athletic at Winterton Park.
Fit-again Chris Crawford has been switched to attack by Inveraray and he will pose problems for the Camanachd Cup semi-finalists.
Oban Camanachd, bitterly disappointed at their Camanachd Cup exit, now have only this trophy to aim at and they face Premier bottom side Glenorchy at Dalmally. Even with Liam MacIntyre suspended, Oban should carry too many guns.
Newtonmore can rise to fourth in the Premier Division if they win at Bute, but that is no foregone conclusion as the islanders have found some form. Rory Kennedy, 17, again leads the attack for More, who are unbeaten in the league, six points off the top with three games in hand.
A decisive moment in the race for the North First Division title is reached with leaders Skye hosting Kilmallie, seven points behind, but with four games in hand. Ally Maclennan is in scoring vein for the Portree side, but Kilmallie beat Skye 5-4 when they met on league business at Canal Park.