MONTROSE PREVIEW

Coach Jim McInally believes a final day surge to get off the bottom of the Third Division would be an achievement worth celebrating.

Shire will avoid the embarrassment of a sixth successive season at the foot of the table if the result against Montrose at Firs Park is better than the one Forfar get in their home match with Dumbarton.

And if they do, McInally claims it would be something to shout about.

"Obviously, finishing ninth may not seem much but when you've been bottom for five seasons in a row then not ending up bottom becomes a big deal," he said.

But he realises things are not in Shire's hands. "I  dare say there will be lots of people on their mobile phones trying to find out how things are going at Forfar, but, first and foremost, we have to concentrate on our own game.

"It's a match we will be setting out to win.Our strikers are not in the best of form at the moment, but I  would be more worried if we were not creating any chances.

"We carved out quite a few openings for ourselves at Dumbarton last week and as long as we can continue to do that then we will stand a chance.

The coach is sweeping aside any suggestions Montrose will treat the game less than seriously, with their midweek play-off against Stranraer looming.

"I  have never known footballers to go out and not to try in a match. I  also know Jim Weir is a competitive guy and he will want to win."

There have also been suggestions the visitors may field a weakened side in order to rest key players. McInally says even if they do that won't mean the task getting any easier.

"If they do that then the players will be keen to impress the manager and win new contracts for next season.

"I  remember being in that position at Morton. We took our reserve team to Forfar for the final league game before the play offs and they won.

"But we have to concentrate on our own game. We hve to make sure we don't lose any goals and than take it from there.

"Given that we were seven points behind Forfar at Easter we have done well just to get to this stage. The players have worked really hard and we need just one final effort."

Gary Kelly and Dean Richardson are ruled out but Gary O'Connor and Scott Gibb should return to the starting eleven.

Kick-off is 3:00pm.

Watch Jim McInally's pre-match interview on shireTV's Kick Off, now available to all registered users.