Raith boss Gary Locke insists he is delighted to see his former team-mate Gavin Skelton doing well as manager of Queen of the South.
However, there will certainly be no old pals’ act when the two sides meet tomorrow.
Rovers are determined to get back to winning ways after two successive defeats against Forfar in the Irn-Bru Cup and Falkirk at home last week in the Championship.
Locke knows though exactly how difficult that desire to take all three points will be to achieve against a Doonhamers side looking to make it a magnificent seven victories in a row.
The Stark’s boss said: “I know Gav quite well, having played with him at Kilmarnock.
“Gav was always a great lad in the dressing-room, a fantastic team-mate. I could certainly have seen him going into the coaching side of things.
“He was an experienced player at the time and he had an opinion, which was great.
“He’s a fantastic lad and I’m delighted to see him doing well – but hopefully not too well this weekend.
“It’s obviously a great opportunity for Gav and he’s taken it with both hands.
“I know how difficult management is, and the coaching side of things, so you’re always delighted when you see your ex-team-mates and your mates doing well.
“We’re all the same because we know how tough it is.
“It’s great to see boys that I know and get on well with doing so well.”
Locke added: “Queens are flying, although they’re only two points ahead of us. It’s going to be a tough game.
“They’ve signed some really good, experienced players during the summer.
“It will be tough but we certainly feel if we go there and play to our best we can go there and get a result.”
One of those experienced Queens players is Stephen Dobie.
The 33-year-old former St Johnstone, Crystal Palace and Bolton striker returned to Palmerston for his second spell at the club this summer and has already netted seven times so far this season.
Locke said: “I wasn’t surprised to see them sign Stephen Dobbie – he’s been there before.
“I would imagine someone there is helping out with the deal but he’s a fantastic signing for them.
“He’s got quality – but they’ve got quality throughout their team, they’re not just a one-man army.
“They’ve got experienced players and lads who have been in this division a long time and know what they’re doing.
“And they’re very workmanlike, they work their socks off.
“If you’re playing against a team like that then you’ve got to do the same.”
Locke has not had his troubles to seek in recent weeks in terms of injuries but there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
He said: “The injury front is a wee bit better. Chris Johnston is back training, which is great. He’s been out a wee while.
“There’s still a slight doubt over big Jean-Yves M’Voto. He’ll train and we’ll see how he is. I would say he’s 50-50.
“Kevin Cuthbert’s back training, which is good.
“The rest of the injured lads are progressing. They’re still going to be a couple of weeks away, most of them.
“But there is a wee bit of light at the tunnel, which is great because we’ve not got a huge squad, but when we have got everybody fit we’ve got a decent squad.
“Mark Stewart has had a hamstring problem. He’s had a wee bit of bother with that this season. We’ll just have to see how he trains.
“If he doesn’t have a reaction then hopefully he can be involved at the weekend.
“Kevin’s been on the bench the last few weeks and he’s had a full week’s training.
“But big Conor Brennan has come in and done well. He’s got the jersey at the moment.
“For me as a manager, if you come in and do well, then you deserve your place in the team.
“We’ll have a look at the side before Saturday and we’ll decide what we’re going to do but Conor has come in and done well.”
