Ramsdens Cup: Annan hoping to strike a psychological blow on Peterhead

Annan Athletic manager Harry Cairney is hoping his men can gain an advantage over visitors Peterhead for the league match between the sides on Saturday by defeating them in the Ramsdens Cup at Galabank tonight.

Cairney said: "We have a tough opening to the season with Albion Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, Queen's Park, Peterhead twice and then Alloa. If we win tonight it will be a great boost, as the better results you have the easier the next game gets.

"We were all really pleased that we came back from two goals down to defeat Queen's Park 5-2 at the weekend but I know Peterhead will be disappointed at losing to Clyde. We have to be ready for them to try and take that out on us."

Cairney has a selection problem of the right kind for the visit of their Third Division promotion rivals as he can add the free-of-suspension Jack Steele, Aaron Muirhead, Kevin Neilson and Bryan Gilfillan to the squad that saw off the Spiders, however striker Sean O'Connor remains an injury doubt.

Peterhead manager John Sheran looks set to rule out Ryan Strachan through injury as they make the long trip south, but free-from-suspension defenders Callum MacDonald and Scott Ross are added.

Ayr United manager Brian Reid has asked the club's fans to turn out in numbers despite their tie with Raith Rovers being moved to Morton's neutral Cappielow due to floodlight work being carried out at Somerset Park. Reid looks set to introduce a number of youngsters into his starting line-up due to injuries and he does not want them to face the double handicap of playing in a 'ghost-like' stadium. Defender Jonathan Tiffoney, in for his first start of the season, and players who have been on the fringes of first team action so far, like Gareth Wardlaw, Gareth Armstrong and Roddy Patterson, are also in line for a start. Raith captain Iain Davidson is a major doubt after picking up an injury in Saturday's 1-0 win over Falkirk, with everyone else in the Stark's Park squad available for the trip to neutral Greenock.

Dumbarton host Berwick and welcome back Martin McBride and Bryan Prunty from suspension, however an injury is expected to rule out Martin McNiff. Berwick striker Darren Gribben is in line to start against one of his former clubs as winger Fraser McLaren looks set to miss out after being injured early on during the Borderers' 4-1 defeat from Elgin on Saturday.

East Fife add Darren Smith, David White and Scott Durie for the visit of Elgin City, who have a full squad to pick from.

Two former Challenge Cup winning clubs meet at Falkirk, where Bairns captain Darren Dods is available to face First Division rivals Dundee. Midfielder Mark Millar returns after a ban, however defender Stephen Kingsley and midfielder Blair Alston both face a race against time to be fit for kick-off.Dundee will still be without the twin strike force of Graham Bayne and Steven Milne through injury.

Forfar have midfielder Martyn Fotheringham free of suspension for the visit of Morton, who put eight past Stranraer in the first round.

Hamilton face First Division rivals Partick Thistle at New Douglas Park with defenders Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh doubts for the Jags.

Livingston meet Stirling Albion. Full back Kyle Jacobs returns to home manager Gary Bollan's thoughts after suspension with no new injury concerns for the visitors.