GARY FAULDS is looking ahead to returning to his hometown of East Kilbride this week with Arthurlie - and wants to leave undefeated.

The "Lie boss takes his side to the East Kilbride Thistle Invitational Tournament this weekend and have a tricky tie to start with against First Division side Stirling Albion.

He said: 'Playing a team like Stirling Albion will give us a chance to measure how we would fare against a senior team.

'I"ve brought in a whole load of new players and while two games in two days will be tough, I plan to use the squad fully over the course of the weekend.

'It"s also a chance for players to go out and impress ahead of the start of the new season and this will be an ideal opportunity for the new guys to do that.

'All I can aim for is to leave East Kilbride undefeated, but that"s easier said than done, especially when Stirling has better quality of players.' Also returning to East Kilbride is new signing Sean Winter, who will ironically make his debut on the home ground of his previous club.

And Faulds is delighted at the application the youngster has made since moving to Dunterlie in the summer, saying: 'Sean has been superb since signing for us, his application is excellent plus his ability to want to keep learning is impressive.' As well as Arthurlie and Stirling Albion, Hamilton Accies and hosts East Kilbride Thistle make up the quartet for the tournament, now in its third year.

EK Thistle and Hamilton, who will be made up with a selection of under-17 and under-19s, kick off the two-day football feast with the first semi-final before "Lie and Albion then begin their bid for the Tommy McGrane Cup with the second semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

With four games over the two days, Faulds is hopeful the supporters will come out and see how his new-look squad fare.

He said: 'We always carry a good support and with Barrhead only about 20 miles from East Kilbride, I"m sure the Dunterlie faithful will come along.

'The fans will no doubt be curious about how the squad looks and how the new faces fit in, so it"s a great chance for them to see for themselves.' FIXTURES Saturday July 21 - East Kilbride Thistle v Hamilton Accies (12noon) and Arthurlie v Stirling Albion (3.30pm) Sunday July 22 - Third Place play-off (12noon) and the final at 3.30pm.