Midfielder David Cully will be missing from the Ards squad as the Carnegie League Cup kicks off the new season away to Queens University on Saturday.

A suspension carried over from the tail-end of last season means Cully will be absent from the side that travels to Newforge, however the situation doesn't end there. Rules dictate that oddly David must sit out the first match played by his former club Portavogie and with the start of their season still a week or so away, that rules the player out of the match against Lurgan Celtic as well.

Many would have thought it likely that Cully might have been involved in the game after impressing in pre-season, however boss Tommy Kincaid will now have to consider other options. Another area giving headaches at the moment is the left-back slot with Kris Pike definitely ruled out. Johnny Cleary's fitness is still in doubt, meaning that Darren Nixon may need to step into the left-back position, as he did last weekend against Ards Rangers.

Ards will play five games in the qualifying stage of this competition, two at home and three away. The group winners from each of the four sections will make up the semi-finals, which will be played at a neutral venue. New regulations this season permit managers to name up to five substitutes and field three in any one game and it is thought that Tommy will do this.

The game kicks-off at Newforge (home of PSNI) at 2.30pm and the Premier Ards Supporters' Club have a bus going to the game leaving the new social club in Regent Street at 1.45pm. The premises will be open prior to departure for fans to wait.

ardsfc.co.uk