Chris Aitken is eyeing three points at Troon tonight to set up a Survival Saturday shoot-out.
It’s now or never for Kilwinning Rangers in their quest to stay in the West of Scotland League Premier Division.
Portland Park is the venue this evening for Buffs’ penultimate game of the campaign, with a final-day trip to Petershill on Saturday.
Two wins will be enough to keep Aitken’s troops in the top flight as long as relegation rivals Arthurlie fail to beat Glenafton Athletic in their closer at Dunterlie at the weekend.
Four points from six would only be enough if Arthurlie lose to Glens and there is a 13-goal swing from the Barrhead side to Buffs.
A Blair MacIntyre strike earned Kilwinning a 1-0 win over Largs Thistle on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of staying up.
“This win gives us a chance,” boss Aitken told the Irvine Herald. “The first task is to try and beat Troon which will be hard as Dean Keenan has got them playing unbelievable football.
“We will prepare well but have a few bumps and bruises. It has been a tough season but in football, anything can happen. I know that from being involved in the game for 25 years.”
Buffs look set to be without forward Ally McColm for their final two matches as Aitken challenged his side to be consistent and have the right mentality with everything on the line.
The manager added: “We go into every game on the front foot, to try and be positive. We don’t get too carried away when we have positive results but we also don’t get too despondent when they go the other way.
“You can’t turn it on like a light switch. You have to be at it every game. We’re at a club with a following and have to be able to deal with that.”
On the victory over Largs, Aitken added: “I’m delighted for the guys who have faced a lot of criticism – and rightly so – but it’s good going into Wednesday with something to play for.
“It keeps us alive but, more importantly, I said to the guys to give the fans something to go away with in the last home game.
“To be fair, the players went out and did that with a clean sheet, a goal and a win in a game where one bit of quality was going to be the difference. We showed a bit of character here which is pleasing.”
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