Peterhead manager Jim McInally has urged his fringe players to stake their claim for a cup semi-final place today when the Blue Toon face League 1 promotion favourites Dunfermline at East End Park.
McInally will be without full back Cammy Kerr due to suspension following his red card at Stenhousemuir last week with the two game ban also ruling the on-loan Dundee player out of the Petrofac Training Cup semi-final against Queen’s Park at Hampden.
Defender Ally Gilchrist suffered a knee injury at Ochilview while midfielders Jamie Stevenson and Nicky Riley are both out of the trip to Fife today.
While the loss of four players stretches McInally’s squad, the Blue Toon manager has challenged his squad players to show him they deserve to face the Spiders at the National Stadium next week by impressing against the Pars.
He said: “Cammy is hurting at missing the semi-final after his red card while Ally has a medial ligament injury and the diagnosis is 10 to 14 days which is going to be cutting it fine for Hampden.
“We had to take Nicky off at Stenny due to a tight hamstring while Jamie is also touch and go for next week but we just have to get on with it.
“I’ve told the players who do come in this game is their chance to stake a claim for a starting place next week. I’m sure the players who come in believe they deserve the chance anyway. Here’s their opportunity and it is up to them to take it.”
Peterhead beat Dunfermline in August to go top of the table but have now fallen 12 points behind the Pars, who trail leaders Ayr United by a point.
McInally knows the trip to Fife will be a test for his players but believes the chance to play the team he expects to win promotion will be the perfect tonic following last Saturday’s 4-3 loss at Stenhousemuir.
He said: “I watched Dunfermline beat Dundee United in the League Cup earlier in the season and they were the much better side against Premiership opposition.
“I know they trail Ayr but I fully expect them to win the league comfortably. There is a feelgood factor about them this season which wasn’t there last year but we will go there looking to frustrate them and quieten what will be a big home crowd.
“We’ll enjoy it. We’re rated as 9-1 to win the game by some bookmakers so we’re looking forward to trying to prove them wrong.”