With League One leaders Rangers looking to extend their 100% record when they travel to Stranraer, Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies is awaiting the outcome with interest.
The Ibrox club are strong favourites to make it 16 league wins from 16 at Ibrox this afternoon and strengthen their grip on top spot, which they hold by 10 points to their nearest challengers.
But Ally McCoist’s men then face arguably their toughest task of the season on Monday when they head to East End Park to take on a Dunfermline side determined to eat into the gap at the top.
The Pars sit isolated in second spot, six points clear of Stranraer in the play-off race, and Jefferies reckons his team are in a win-win situation without even kicking a ball.
“If Rangers do win as fancied at home then we cannot lose because if Stranraer take points off Rangers it helps, but if they lose we can go into that game against Rangers on Monday with nothing to lose,” he said.
“We can have a right go since we have a little bit of leeway. We wouldn’t lose our place because we would still be in front in second.”
The Pars’ 3-0 win over Arbroath at the weekend meant for an enjoyable Christmas for all at East End Park and Jefferies will have his players back in training over the next few days as they prepare for the visit of Rangers.
Meanwhile, Jefferies has revealed he hopes to give young prospect Faissal el Bakhtaoui a run of matches after the French Moroccan featured in the win at Arbroath.
“We’ve got to remember that this boy never played 11-a-side football when we took him on,” he said.
“You have to give him a lot of time to adjust and settle in, but he’s coming on well.
“You want to be in a position where you could maybe give him a wee run of games, and maybe we should think about if he keeps improving it won’t be a case of waiting until the right time.”