DUMBARTON PREVIEW

Shire boss, Jim McInally, says the players at the club are well aware of the significance of this weekend's trip to Dumbarton.

A win, allied to a Forfar defeat at Stenhousemuir, would mean the club would escape a wooden spoon finish for the first time since 2000/01 season.

It would also prevent the SFL taking action against the club by reducing it to Associate Members of the league, with no voting rights.

"The players know how important this match is to the club," said the coach. "No-one likes finishing bottom of the league and they all have pride and contracts to play for.

"We will certainly give it our best shot, but Dumbarton won't want to finish bottom either, so it could be a tight game.

"Things have got better in defence lately, but I  would like to see a bit more end product up front and that is something we are now working on."

Andy Rodgers has returned to training after a bout of illness and will be included in the squad.

"I have said before that Andy may not be scoring goals but his runs and the positions he takes up on the pitch are still imortant to us," said the Shire coach.

"However, he is going back to one of his old clubs, and a ground he knows well, and it would be nice to think he could break his scoring duck there."

Scott  Gibb is in Portugal with the Northern Ireland under-20 side and will miss out, with his place again going to Craig Black. Gary Kelly and Dean Richardson are out long-term, but the coach has no other injury or suspension concerns.

You can now watch the full interview with Jim ahead of the big game on shireTV's Kick Off.