AYR and Prestwick are gearing up for their most important derby clash in years at Cambusdoon this afternoon.

The visitors, impressive pace-setters for much of the season, can take a huge step towards clinching the title whereas a home win would see Ayr enhance their prospects of becoming champions for the second time in four years.

Prestwick skipper Shahzad Rafiq, while delighted with his side’s efforts to date, knows nothing has been won yet and is wary of the threat posed by Ayr.

He said: “The guys have been brilliant so far. We have tried to play an attacking brand of cricket and we intend to continue in the same way.

“The derby is a game we always look forward to and this one is really important to both sides.

“Ayr are clearly one of the top teams in the league and I’m sure no-one will be surprised to see them challenging for the title whereas I don’t think many people at the start of the season would have expected Prestwick to be top at this stage in the season.

“We have maybe over-achieved but we always believed in our own ability and now we have got a bit of momentum so we’re in a good position.”

Ayr, six percentage points behind their rivals, surely must win to stay in contention but skipper Andi McElnea takes a relaxed view to the match.

He said: “I don't feel that the pressure is on us as we are off the pace at the moment so it's simply a case of turning up and playing our best cricket and we’ll see what happens.

“Certainly, the guys are going to have to rise to whatever challenges we’re confronted with during our last four games but we won't be changing anything for the derby – we’re just looking forward to it.”

Both sides go into the match in fine form, Ayr having lost just once in their last seven games while the visitors boast a run of five straight wins though their last reverse came at the hands of today’s opponents.

It is also derby day in Paisley where Ferguslie and Kelburne have contrasting aims, the former having the chance to end the day top of the table while the Whitehaugh men are scrapping for top flight survival.

Ferguslie welcome back Haroon Tahir and Jamie Cook.

Poloc also have players returning when they host near-neighbours Clydesdale, Owais Shah and Ihtisham Malik back from Scotland U19 action but South African Louis Geldenhuys is out for the remainder for the season through injury.

Champions Clydesdale, out of the running following last week’s defeat to Uddingston, are again without their injured player-coach Con de Lange.

That result kept Uddingston on the fringes of the title race and they can retain their interest in events at the top of the table with a home victory over an East Kilbride side who are battling to avoid the drop.

Relegation also remains an issue for Greenock and Dumfries who meet at Glenpark.