Almost but not totally, as Bainfield spokesman Paul O'Donnell said: "Our results may not have improved but our performances have over the past couple of games and the feeling is that we now just need a change of luck to turn the corner."

Bainfield know, however, that Midlothian are no pushovers and a home win is the most likeliest outcome and the real opportunity for the Edinburgh club to escape the relegation zone is in three home games still to come at the Hutchison Crossway stadium.

Craig Paterson and teenager Jamie McIntosh are absentees tomorrow with Alan Trotter and Derek Smith coming off the reserve bench to fill the gaps in a Bainfield team that does look reasonably strong on paper.

Midlothian did Bainfield a big favour by beating Paisley last weekend and continue with an unchanged team that means Scott Matthews retains his place after his late call-up from the bench.

East Lothian go for six in a row when they visit Arbroath in the B section and would normally be hot favourites to win. However, the Garden County have five of their regulars unavailable for selection.

Ace skips Alex Marshall MBE and Paul Foster are down south for the International Open while holiday commitments rule out Mark Johnston, Andrew Jeffrey, and Stuart Wyllie.

Ex-Midlothian star Colin Cook is a surprise selection in the East Lothian replacements and is joined by John Stevenson, David Sked, Jamie Gordon and Stevie Thomson.

Cook will play lead to Willie Wood MBE while Scott Kennedy and James Hogg step up to skip in a team that still looks good enough to keep East Lothian on track for their fourth national title in a row.

West Lothian make a last-chance saloon visit to fellow strugglers East Fife at Methil and have Graeme Archer and Thomas Mann back on duty but lose regulars Mark Allison and Ricky Forrest.

Gary Smith steps out and former British Isles Fours champion Jimmy Mallon comes in for his first game of the campaign and a reshaped line-up includes Archer skipping a young front three in Ewan Wilson, Kenny Black and Calum Logan.

Balbardie visit foot of the table Alloa in Division 1B and make one change with Andy Forrest coming in for Murray Bell while Portobello are without Andrew Binnie and skip Ian Fleming for the visit of Abbeyview in Division 2B.

Davy McLeod and Gary Nisbet come in for Porty, who move John McDermott up to skip against the joint league leaders.

• PORTOBELLO are out of the Headwell Team Championship event having made a 6-2 points exit to Balbardie.