Grange had to dig deep to edge success-hungry Western Wildcats when the sides met at Fettes College in Edinburgh earlier this season.

The gutsy 3-2 win could prove a defining moment as the champions bid to retain the Division One title.

The pair square-up at Auchenhowie on Saturday (2pm) as Grange defend their unbeaten 12-game record.

Second-placed Wildcats are second in the ten-strong table and six points separate the sides with 12 matches already played.

Dundee-based Grove Menzieshill are tucked in at third position only one point adrift of Western.

Ed Irvine, Grange’s team manager, said: “This is a really tough national league match.
“Western are well-organised and play a good game. We have a full squad available and we look forward to the match.”

Grange have the edge and their coach David Knipe has steered his title-holders to ten wins and two draws, scoring 48 goals and conceding only 14 in reply.

Western have won eight, drawn two and lost two of their games so far and have netted 39 goals and let in 13 for 26 points.

Watsonians host Edinburgh University at Tipperlin and they shared a point in a 2-2 draw when they travelled to Peffermill earlier in the campaign.

Pointless Aberdeen, who prop up the table, host fourth-placed Hillhead while Grove are at Uddingston, who are sixth, with fifth-placed Clydesdale entertaining struggling Kelburne who are second bottom of the table.

Saturday fixtures: Watsonians v Edinburgh University (no time given); Western v Grange (14.00), Aberdeen v Hillhead (15.30), Uddingston v Grove (16.30); Clydesdale v Kelburne (16.30).

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