Three points is the primary aim this afternoon for a promotion-chasing Forfar side who have not won in their last four league outings.
Ayr United, one of just two teams to beat the Loons in League One so far this season, will be aiming to blot the home side’s copybook yet again when they visit Station Park, but Forfar boss Dick Campbell will no doubt be keen to record a seventh victory of the campaign to keep his team right in the thick of things at the top of the table.
Campbell has not been happy with the consistency of refereeing in his side’s games in recent weeks, and will be without Jim Paterson after his red card against Morton two weeks ago, but the manager is choosing to focus on the football and getting his side back to winning ways.
“I’m sitting up in the stand these days and I’m certainly more objective than what I was 20 years ago,” he conceded.
“Twenty years ago I was an idiot, arguing with referees, this that and the next thing.
“But now I’m pretty optimistic and I think we’ve got a right good team here this year.
“People laugh at Forfar and say we’ve got older players but that’s unfair I’ve got good players who are experienced.
“Gavin Swankie, Mark McCulloch, Chris Templeman, people of that ilk, I know them all and I’ve known them all for years.
“But we’ve still got a young team, we’ve still got Omar Kader and Dale Hilson, who has been on fire, James Dale and we’ve signed the wee boy (Scott) Smith from Dundee United, so we’ve got a good mixture with guys like Jim Paterson as well.”
Martyn Fotheringham should return for the Loons, while Danny Denholm faces a late fitness test.
As well as the suspended Paterson, Mark Baxter and Derek Young will both remain sidelined as Forfar look to preserve their unbeaten home record, although former Arbroath defender Michael Travis included as a trialist for the 3-3 draw at Brechin last week – could be included in the squad.