Cove Rangers boss Jim McIntyre wants to use this weekend’s game with Hamilton as the chance to claw back points on teams above them.
Cove face bottom-half teams in three of their next four games, with Arbroath and Morton also coming up after a Friday night contest against Queen’s Park.
McIntyre’s side are two points ahead of Accies and Arbroath, who occupy the two lowest spots in the Championship. Cove drew 2-2 with Ayr United last time out.
“This is the first of a few games coming up against our direct competitors, so it’s a big one,” said McIntyre. “I was pleased with a lot of aspects in last week’s game – it was a strong performance against a team which went top of the Championship in midweek.
“But we gave up too many chances and there are still things we must do better. We obviously went with a different formation and in an attacking sense it worked for us.
“There were large parts of the game where we had them under real pressure and that’s what I’ll be looking for the players to do again.”
The two sides drew 2-2 when they met in Aberdeen at the start of September, with Cove twice coming from behind to take a point at the Balmoral Stadium.
Accies have since slipped to the foot of the table and were beaten 1-0 at Arbroath a week ago.
“It’s been so tight so far and nothing is likely to change,” added McIntyre. “The importance of being good in both boxes is so clear.
“Yes you have to be clinical in attack, but in defence you have to cut out the silly individual errors. Getting in front in any match in this division gives you such an advantage – the stats show just how important that goal is.
“When you’re taking on any Hamilton team you know you have to be ultra-competitive, especially at their place. They will fight for everything – it’s in the DNA of the club – so you have to win your battles all over the park.”
Jamie Masson could be in line to return to the Cove side after nursing a rib injury since the game against Arbroath.
However, Fraser Fyvie is expected to miss out again and Shay Logan is rated as 50-50.