Tommy Sloan won’t use a raft of absentees as an excuse as Auchinleck try to add another piece of silverware to their bulging trophy cabinet.
Injury crocks Graham Wilson and Craig McCracken are big doubts for the South Challenge Cup final against Bonnyrigg Rose at the Falkirk Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Michael Wardrope and Lewis Crawford are cup tied and miss out while Neill McPherson was due to get stitches removed on Monday.
Sloan missed Talbot’s final league game – a 5-0 rout over Cumbernauld – to run the rule over Bonnyrigg who won promotion to SPFL League Two after beating Cowdenbeath 4-0 on aggregate.
The Beechwood gaffer said: “It was great to have a look at Bonnyrigg rather than go in blind which I hate doing.
“We face a difficult match against a strong team who are a big, physical side.
“This is a new cup for us with a lot of teams from different leagues. It is great to be involved and there have been some cracking ties.
“Now we are in the final we want to win it but we are not without problems although winning our last game so well is a good way to go into it.
“Graham hasn’t played for two or three weeks with a calf problem while Craig lasted only half a game when he tried to come back from injury.
“We will give them every chance as they are big players. We’ve played a lot of games recently and they have caught up with us but there will be no excuses if we don’t perform on Sunday.”
No 2 Allan McLuckie was in charge as Talbot pulled down the curtain on the Premier League with a sunshine goal feast.
A spectacular strike from Bryan Boylan sent them on their way. Mark Shankland scored two, including a penalty, and set up Keir Samson’s double with a slide rule pass and then a dummy.
McLuckie said: “We said it wasn’t an end of season game with two big cup finals to come and the boys were at it right from the start. We were comfortable winners and scored some good goals.”
Despite amassing 86 points and losing only four league games, Talbot finished four points behind champions Darvel who launch their play-off bid for the Lowland League with a trip to St Cuthbert Wanderers on Wednesday, May 25.
After Sunday, Talbot will have a 13 day break before the Scottish Junior Cup final against Yoker at Rugby Park, on Saturday, June 4 when they chase a remarkable 14th triumph.
