Montrose may have all but clinched a promotion play-off spot but Gable Endies boss Stewart Petrie is determined his players will erase any lingering doubt by winning at Forfar this afternoon.
The Links Park men are sitting in fourth place, five points ahead of East Fife with a goal difference advantage of six.
There are of course just two games of the regular season remaining and one point at Station Park would in all likelihood secure Montrose fourth and a play-off against the side finishing ninth in the Championship.
That would also be confirmed if East Fife drop points at Stenhousemuir but Petrie wants his team to do it under their own steam.
Petrie said: “It kind of sprung up on us, finding ourselves in fourth.
“Then we find ourselves five points clear of fifth so there is no doubt we are in a strong position to secure a play-off spot.
“We are though taking nothing for granted as we have two of the toughest games coming up against Forfar and Raith.
“We are certainly not silly enough to think we are over the line and there is a fair bit of work to be done to secure that.
“We want to do it on our own merit but we are aware of just how difficult it will be at Forfar. The games between us have been really close this year and I don’t expect this one to be any different.”
When asked if he felt one point against Forfar would be enough to clinch that play-off place, Petrie insisted: “No, we want three. If East Fife go and win two games convincingly and we lose, then the goal difference will change.
“So we will look to win as we do every game.
“But we are up against a formidable team that has one of the best strike pairings in the league.”
Chris Antoniazzi is struggling with a hamstring while long-term injured Craig Johnston, Martyn Fotheringham and Matty Allan will also miss out.
