The pre-season programme for Brechin City and Montrose will acquire a bit more bite when the pair meet in the first round of this year”s Forfarshire Cup.
Brechin, a league higher, with home advantage and a series of confidence boosting results behind them, start as favourites against a Montrose side that is still experimenting.
Montrose manager Stephen Tweed has confirmed that the club has freed striker John Gemmell, the team’s highest paid player, who has not made the impact Montrose had hoped.
Whether or not cash-strapped Montrose will spend the money saved on securing another striker, Tweed will have a couple of trialist strikers in his lineup.
A number of players, including Hugh Davidson, are carrying minor injuries while others like Paul Tosh are coming back from holidays and come into the selection mix.
Goalkeeper Sandy Wood is getting fitness and confidence back while new signings Nicky Smith and Terry Masson have acquitted themselves well.
Others who have not played yet but are available are Alan Campbell, Sean Fleming and Tweed himself.
Tweed has said that, despite the club’s problems last season and its ongoing financial woes, he rules over a “happy camp,” helped by the fact that, with all but two players coming from the Dundee, Aberdeen and Perthshire area, the squad trains together.
“We have tested ourselves against good teams and I am happy with fitness, but we are looking for more goals,” said Tweed who is more satisfied with team arrangements for this season and with his backroom staff, which includes Ray Farningham as his assistant, Stuart Garden as goalkeeping coach and a physio in place.
“We are needing to add another two or three players,” he said.
Brechin go into the match with a lot of confidence but with manager Jim Weir forced to make changes because of injuries and absences.
Jamie Redman is recovering from a hernia operation and may play part of the game, Kevin Byers has a hamstring strain and Rory McAllister has a wedding engagement.
“We are a bit stretched,” said Weir who confirmed he has signed Davie White on a one-year contract.
“He has played better than I anticipated and, although other clubs were interested in him, he was keen to return to Brechin. We will nurse him through and we should see him in the team sometime soon.
“The players are working hard and they are taking that on to the pitch. Everyone is playing their part and it give me a bit of a selection headache.”