By Lars Niven

ANDY KIRK (pictured) knows what it takes to beat Livingston, but the Dunfermline striker has revealed he won’t be taking anything for granted when the teams meet today.

Kirk played against Livi when he was at Hearts and scored against them on more than one occasion and is looking to repeat that feat at East End Park.

However, he knows it is going to be tough.

“I played against them once or twice for Hearts,” he told Courier Sport yesterday.

“We were always quite successful and I scored a few goals against them, but it’s a different league now and a totally different team.

“Livingston are going well at the moment. It’s going to be a hard game.

“I’m still learning about teams in this league and the players I’m up against, so it’s all new for me at the minute.

“I’ve always been used to playing in games that have been played at a quick pace, so the transition has been quite easy so far.

“It’s just been a matter of trying to get my match fitness during the games and trying to learn how the new team-mates play and trying to fit in. I’m feeling quite fit at the minute.”

The 29-year-old has made an impressive start for the Pars having scored four goals in half a dozen appearances, but he could have bagged even more.

“I’m happy enough with the start I’ve made,” Kirk added. “I maybe could’ve had a couple more, but that’s probably just being a bit greedy.

“No matter what team I’ve been with or where I’ve been I’ve always scored. It’s a part of my game which I’m good at.

“If we can keep creating chances and I can keep getting in the right areas I believe I’ll score a lot more goals.”

The Pars have been creating plenty of chances of late ... the problem has been putting them away.

“We’re getting good balls into the box and creating chances, we’ve just got to maybe start being a wee bit more ruthless and try and convert the chances we create,” continued Kirk.

“There will be some games where you’re up against it and you might not get that many chances and that’s where you’ve got to be clinical and make the most of the chances you do get.”

He added the team were determined to get their solid start to the league back on track after a poor showing at home against Airdrie.

A win would see the Pars leapfrog Livingston into third spot.

“Obviously we were disappointed with the result last week, especially being at home and the fact we didn’t get a goal at least,” Kirk said.

“That could have made a difference.

“I didn’t think we played particularly well at times.

“We’ve got another home game coming up and we’ve got to be looking to win our games.”

Pars boss Jim McIntyre is without midfielder Nick Phinn, who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the game against Airdrie.

He will almost certainly be missing defender Greg Shields and winger Kevin Harper, both of whom picked up hamstring strains in the Co-operative Insurance Cup victory against Alloa on Tuesday.

Likewise, midfielder Stephen Glass is likely to sit the game out having aggravated a calf injury in the midweek match.

Livingston saw off St Johnstone in midweek in the Co-operative Insurance Cup with an extra-time winner from Jean-Jose Cuenca to keep Roberto Landi’s fine start at Almondvale going.

Callum Elliot from Hearts has been brought in on loan and is expected to start.

With the international break coming up Landi may be tempted to give exciting young striker Leigh Griffiths another game before resting him.

Landi said, “The players have been fantastic for such a small squad, I do not know how they keep their energy up. After this game it will be complete rest for three or four days.”