Raith Rovers manager Grant Murray is keen for his team to lay down a marker in the Championship when Dumbarton visit Kirkcaldy this afternoon.
The Stark’s Park side’s hopes of a third straight win were dashed by the weather last weekend, but Murray’s men will try again today against a Sons side who went down 3-1 to Rovers on the opening day of the league season.
Just two points separate the two teams in the division, so Rovers know that another three points at home could see them close in on the top five and keep today’s visitors at arm’s length.
“Where we are in that middle section of the league, it’s up to us to keep tabs on what’s above us at this moment in time and we need to build on what we’ve done in the last two games,” the Raith boss noted.
“The games have been hard against Dumbarton so far this season.
“We got a good win at home, and then we put in a good performance down there but ended up coming away with nothing.
“So we know how it’s going to be.
“Dumbarton will be wanting a wee reaction after Saturday’s game against Hearts.
“Hearts are beating everyone, it’s as simple as that, and that’s how Dumbarton will look upon that result.
“They played well in the game, they’ve had chances in the game, so Dumbarton will want to try and bounce back.
“We’ve got to be ready for what they’ll throw at us.”
Asked if last week’s postponement against Queen of the South had been a blessing in disguise, given that several members of the squad had been suffering from a sickness bug, Murray said: “Yes and no.
“You get into the situation where a week past Tuesday we had five senior players missing, most of them were back by the end of the week, but a few of them had only done a day or two’s training.
“We wanted to keep the momentum going, having a home game, and players want to keep playing but there’s nothing you can do about the weather and the conditions.
“It was the referee who was doing the game who came out and did the inspection, to be fair to him, and it was called off in good time.”
The Sons head to Stark’s on the back of a 5-1 mauling at home to league leaders Hearts, although they will take heart from the 2-1 win they recorded over Rovers at the Bet Butler Stadium last month.
That outcome was not without controversy though, as a late penalty settled affairs, and Murray admits his side’s showing that day merited something from the game.
“It was a bit of a sickener, just the way it ended,” he concluded.
“We had performed well, but it’s about performing well and making sure you do enough to win games.”
Rovers should have a full squad to choose from for the first time this season, with goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert returning to full training after shoulder surgery.
First choice shot-stopper David McGurn is expected to retain the number one jersey though.