With three of the four Mowi Premiership title contenders opting to take their designated free Saturday this weekend, Newtonmore have the chance to close the gap at the top of the table to a single point when they play their game in hand against Kinlochshiel.
Each team can select one weekend each season without a match, and with a third of the season remaining, leaders Kingussie and Fort William are both a point ahead of Oban Camanachd.
A win for Newtonmore would move them level on points with the Oban side. The Fort have played one game more than their challengers.
Newtonmore boss Peter Ross said: “This game is massive for us, and we have to win.
“Kinlochshiel always give us a hard game, but we’ll have a good-sized crowd behind us, and the same squad as last week to choose from.
“The boys are fit and that’s testament to the good work Lesley McKenna and Noel Baxter do at training, and they are two Olympians after all.”
Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae said: “Archie MacRae and Arron Jack return. Conor Cormack started against Kingussie but felt his back stiff after half-time, so we’ll need to see how he is.”
While Kyles Athletic and Caberfeidh currently sit above the relegation zone, both are keen to take something from their clash to put distance between themselves and the bottom clubs.
Kyles manager Grant Profit said: “Unfortunately Will Cowie will miss the rest of the season. His hamstring injury’s a bad one and he’s looking at 12 weeks out.
“Roddy Macdonald and James Pringle return, but Luke Thornton, Ross Donald and Max Carr are unavailable.”
Morrison again misses out
Caberfeidh manager Garry Reid is still without Craig Morrison and Jamie MacKintosh through injury whilst Ben Macdonald’s working.
Scottish international Kevin Bartlett faces a spell on the sidelines as Reid explained: “Kevin hurt his wrist in the first game of the season, and his ankle has been bothering him too, so he asked to have some time out.
“I’m hoping he might make it back towards the tail end of the season, but we’ll see how things go. We’ve an unchanged squad from last week.”
Derby meetings between Lovat and Beauly are always tense affairs, but with the sides sitting in the two topflight relegation places, Saturday’s encounter has added spice.
Lovat are without Cameron Macmillan, who is recovering well after suffering a head knock last week, whilst Callum Cruden is suspended.
Callison banned for Lochaber
Both Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup semi-finals take place at Taynuilt.
Lochaber and Col Glen occupy the top two positions in the Mowi National Division, and they meet at noon.
Lochaber miss the suspended Stuart Callison and although they’ve won both league encounters between the sides this season, manager Ally Ferguson is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “We know from experience just how good Col Glen really are. They’re a very good, balanced side who work hard for each other with good coaches and our last game against them could have gone either way.
“It’s also a cup semi-final so previous results go out the window. It’s a one-off game and both teams will need to be at their very best, but we can go into the match with confidence but also with due respect and we’re all looking forward to a cracking game.”
Inverness, the only regional side left in the tournament, meet Inveraray in their semi at 3pm.
Glasgow Mid Argyll travel north to play one of their Mowi National Division games in hand against Glenurquhart. A win would lift the Glasgow side to third place, and they face a Glen team without key players Ali MacKintosh and Lachie Smith who are both suspended.
Badenoch go four points clear at the top of the Mowi Premier League after winning 7-0 at Glenurquhart. Megan Ralph netted four times whilst Rona Stewart, Zoe Reid and Hope Borthwick got the others. Second-placed Lochaber have a game in hand.
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