Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies said he learned a lot from his side’s visit to Berwick on Saturday.
He said the game made him realise he was a step closer to determining what will be his first choice starting XI for the kick-off of the new season.
The Pars won 2-1 with a goal in each half from Shaun Byrne and Michael Moffat. Berwick had equalised midway into the first half through new signing Scott Maxwell.
Jefferies utilised no fewer than nine second-half substitutions and afterwards he said: “The difference between the first and second half was like night and day.
“In the first half we didn’t control the ball as much as I would like, but in the second we were a lot more decisive and created a few chances.
“Games like this are all about giving the lads a chance to prove themselves and that is what we did, but I think I am a step closer to determining what is my strongest starting XI.”
Byrne opened the scoring in 13 minutes but it was full-back Ross Drummond, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Berwick, who took all the credit for creating the opening.
He danced past three home defenders on the left before cutting the ball back to Byrne, who was left with a tap-in past home keeper Billy Bald.
Rangers drew level after 25 minutes when two new signings combined for the equaliser. Paul Willis, a former Dunfermline player, played a one-two on the left before squaring the ball to Maxwell in the box, whose first-time shot beat Ryan Scully in the visitors’ goal.
Both teams made numerous changes in the second half, but it was the Pars who dominated play during this period.
They were boosted by a second goal just two minutes after the restart, when good build-up play left centre forward Michael Moffat with another simple side-foot into the home net.
Berwick suffered a major injury blow when midfielder Ross Gray was stretchered from the field just six minutes after being introduced as a half-time substitute.
It was later confirmed he had suffered medial ligament damage to his right knee and is likely to be sidelined for up to eight weeks.