They achieved a solid sixth place overall on the last round, the 'Speyside', having been out of competition since the Border Counties in April, when the car sustained heavy damage.

The pair will be hoping for better luck on Saturday than their outing in the Galloway Forest in 2007, when they were forced to retire on the first stage with the car overheating.

One driver tipped as a possible outright winner on Saturday, is fourth-seeded Connor McCloskey, who is making the trip over from County Londonderry.

22-year-old McCloskey currently leads the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship and will be competing in a Ford Focus WRC.

Starting one car further back is Oban's Wiliam Bonniwell, with Mull-based Ian Fraser on the notes, who were heading for a top ten finish on the 'Speyside', before going off the road in their Subaru Impreza.

Mike Faulkner finished third overall on the Speyside and - with long-time navigator Peter Foy - is looking for another podium finish on Saturday, in his Group A specification Mitsubishi Evo 6 which starts sixth.

“We have enjoyed good results on the Galloway Forest stages in the past – both in Group N, and the one-make championship rounds, and will be aiming for another podium finish”, said Faulkner. “It's always difficult to beat the world rally cars of David Bogie and Jimmy Girvan, but it's all possible with a little luck and magic!”

Faulkner will be joined by team-mate Steven Clark, who missed the last round because he was taking part in a charity drive to Cameroon. He currently lies fifth overall in the championship, and second in Group N in his Mitsubishi Evo 4.

Clark will be accompanied on the Merrick by rookie co-driver Neil Mullen of Carlisle, whose name was drawn from a short-list of those who were closest to guessing the total mileage of the African trip.

“I'm looking for a top ten finish, and at least within two places of Group N leader Barry Groundwater, which would mean we'd be level going into the final McRae Stages round,” said Clark.