THE WAITING is almost over.

You can forget about the English Premier League and the Scottish Premiership.

Because here in south west Scotland, well Cumnock, Doon Valley and Upper Nithsdale anyway, the junior game is all that matters.

We’ve had our appetites whetted with the Ardagh Cup but the action starts in earnest this weekend with the opening round of league fixtures.

It will be the start of another rollercoaster of a season with fans of all our clubs ready for some serious highs and lows.

And here at the Chronicle, we will look at our sides and see how each is shaping up ahead of the new campaign.

What more can be said about talismanic Tommy Sloan and his Talbot side? They are the Barcelona of the junior game. That might be hard to swallow for fans of Cumnock, but the reality is the Beechwood boys are becoming untouchable at this level.

After winning back-to-back league titles, they will be looking to become the first in Premier League history to make it three in a row. Their performances haven’t gone unnoticed and the players putting them in haven’t either. That saw Gordon Pope leave for the seniors last season and this years it’s the turn of influential Craig Pettigrew, who is trying his luck at Stranraer. An early injury to Martin McGoldrick hasn’t helped Tucker’s options but the signing of Mark Campbell from Irvine Meadow was an astute one. Pope has also returned from his season at Ayr United and the squad looks as strong as ever and results in the Ardagh Cup and Scottish senior Cup suggest Talbot will take some stopping AGAIN.

As well as the league and Scottish Cup, Talbot will be looking to make their mark in the senior Scottish Cup this season. They face a tricky tie with Buckie Thistle in the first round but after last season’s epic clashes with Stranraer they will be looking for another crack at one of the big boys.

Flattered to deceive at times last season and, after a promising start, were nearly sucked back into relegation trouble. Pre-season form hasn’t been great and the loss of Chris Robertson to Hurlford is a blow. But Brian McLuckie has added seven new signings and his business looks to have been shrewd with Paul Quinn and Girvan’s prolific marksman Darren Mitchell on board and boosting the attacking options.

Stranraer kids Keiron Maxwell and Keiron Wood offer promise if not experience, but the arrival of Stevie Canning could be a good one if he maintains his fitness and can dictate play from the midddle of the park.

The backroom team has changed too with McLuckie’s assistant Alan McTurk leaving and the the departure of John Bradford also forcing some backroom changes. Maybe the new dynamic on the training ground will inspire an improved performance this season? It’s unlikely Cumnock will challenge Talbot for the title but another cup run isn’t beyond them and they shouldn’t have any fears over relegation.

Probably the surprise package last season which culminated in that thrilling run to the final of the Scottish Cup. The 3-0 defeat to Hurlford was a disappointing one but refereeing decisions and key moments in the game went against Tommy Bryce’s side.

So that run should give Bryce’s men a platform to build on, although the injury to Craig Menzies will cause them issues in the early stages of the campaign.

The arrival of Adam Strachan is an interesting one. There is no denying his on-field ability but it’s off-field discretions that have held the former Partick Thistle winger’s career back. If he can keep on the straight and narrow he could add goals and invention to Glens.

Bryce and his boys will be dreaming of another Cup run but maintaining their Premier League status will be the priority. The arrival of a strong Troon side will add competition to the league but Glens should have the quality to finish in the top half.

Jose Quitongo arrived in a blaze of glory at the end of last year. His profile might be good for the club but as yet that hasn’t been replicated on the park.

Quitongo was slow in adding new faces to a struggling squad and again they will have to rely on kids to help this season.

They need a good start otherwise the confidence of the players will sink and they could be heading for another long and miserable season.

Lugar have made one big signing this summer - and he won’t even kick a ball this campaign.

Boss Carlo Walker was rumoured to be on his way but is staying on and is committed as ever to the task ahead He is always going to be struggling for cash and that’s what ultimately stopped them from challenging last season after a fast start.

They have quality throughout their ranks but a lack of bodies might stop them mounting a challenge in the Ayrshire District League.

Things can only get better for the Dalmellington outfit. They failed to win a game last season and new boss John Redmond is confident he can stop the rot.

He has a wealth of experience and knows the junior game inside out. He has already used his wealth of contacts to bring in new signings and some decent Ardagh Glass performances - including Saturday’s win over Girvan - offer a glimmer of optimism ahead of the new season.

Dumfrieshhsire’s only junior football team have continually struggled attracting players to the club. Four straight defeats in the Ardagh Glass Cup - including a 4-1 loss to Murikir - suggest they are likely to struggle for points again in this season’s Ayrshire District League.