Forfar manager Jim Weir has told his players they will be hosting a very different Dumbarton side to the one they defeated 2-0 away in August.
The Sons sit second bottom of League One, four points behind the Loons, but Weir expects them to be much improved.
Weir said: “Jim Duffy will improve them and that is not a slight on their former manager Stephen Aitken.
“Jim will improve Dumbarton as he has more players available as a result of injuries clearing up.
“I had a run like that when I was manager of Brechin and while everyone has sympathy for injuries it is results that matter and when they are disappointing the manager goes.
“Their squad is stronger and that will help Dumbarton climb the table but we need to concentrate on Forfar and getting the three points.”
The Station Park men go into the game after a disappointing 4-0 loss at Brechin, with Weir regretting Dylan Easton’s missed penalty when the game was goalless and some slack defending.
Weir said: “We were well on top early on when we got the penalty and if we scored it then the outcome could have been very different.
“However, seeing it missed and then having a five-10-minute spell before half-time where we lost three goals killed our chances of taking anything from the game.
“Our defending has to be a lot better throughout the game than it was at Glebe Park.
“It was really disappointing that our run of three wins was not made four as we were building up a nice head of steam.
“To lose that run in a derby match made it all the more disappointing.
“I felt low afterwards, as did everyone at the club and the supporters, but we need to shake that off and be ready for Dumbarton.
“We did manage to secure a great win at their place but we will need to play really well and defend a lot better to do so again.”
Weir is again unable to call on the injured Aidan Wilson, Michael Kennedy and Matty Aitken.
