Bowls: Bainfield boss Bell hopeful of springing a big surprise

Team manager John Bell, however, adopts the optimistic view that a win would give them a lifeline.

"It will be long odds on us managing to beat the league leaders but if we can pull off a surprise and other results go our way then we could battle our way into second bottom and the relegation play-off."

Bainfield are four points adrift of West Lothian and Aberdeen and also have a worse shot-margin deficit than both so it will take a miracle to save them from automatic relegation. Bell, however, has reformed his rinks and they have a strong look, with lead figure Robert Marshall back from Hong Kong and skips Martyn Dickson, Gary Robertson and Jamie Gracie.

Midlothian thumped Aberdeen last weekend and with the Dalkeith camp absolutely buzzing at the prospect of qualifying for the play-off final, it is no surprise that team manager Frank Gray sticks with an unchanged team.

"Our guys know that we can't afford to relax and although it is top versus bottom they will be treating Bainfield with the utmost respect as we don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot."

East Lothian need to keep winning as, with a superior shot-margin bank, they can punish any Midlothian slip-up. They have struggled at Aberdeen in the past and tomorrow they are without Alex Marshall, Paul Foster, and Andrew Jeffrey.

Bainfield need an East Lothian win and it would also help their survival cause if Auchinleck were able to beat West Lothian at Livingston; but the home team will be at full strength and fighting for their lives

It is a poor reflection on the Bowling scene in the Capital that Portobello are also fighting relegation in the Division 1B league and being two points adrift at the foot of the table it is vital they win at home against Balbardie.