Brechin boss Ray McKinnon has drafted in reinforcements ahead of their clash with runaway league leaders Rangers at Glebe Park.
Dundee United midfielder and Scotland Under-19 skipper Darren Petrie, as well as young Hamilton striker Andy Ryan, have signed for the Angus club on loan.
Both will go into today’s squad against a Rangers side that continues to beat all-comers in League One despite the considerable off-field strife that has once again engulfed the Ibrox club.
Ally McCoist’s team have been victorious in all their league games so far, with one bookmaker offering odds as short as 5-1 that they can carry on winning until the end of the season.
However, McKinnon admitted he would be surprised if the run of victories can continue right through to the end of the campaign, and he believes that, certainly away from home, Rangers could drop points hopefully starting at Brechin.
He said: “We have brought Darren Petrie and Andy Ryan in on loan from Dundee United and Hamilton respectively.
“Darren is someone I know well as I helped bring him into the Scotland U17s and he has not looked back since.
“He is getting bigger and more mature which is one of the reasons Ricky Sbragia now has him captaining the Scotland U19s.
“I feel we are a bit light at the moment because of injuries which is why I have also brought in Andy.
“With Derek Carcary and Steven Robb struggling for full match fitness, a lot of the scoring burden has fallen on Andy Jackson and Ryan will hopefully ease some of that pressure.
“Both of them will go into the squad for the game against Rangers.
“I was bitterly disappointed after losing to Stenhousemuir last week, but I can’t wait for this weekend’s game.
“The players are really up for it. We trained on Thursday night at the superb facilities at the Falkirk Stadium and I saw that wee spark in the lads which was there last season.
“There are some pundits who believe Rangers can win all their games in this league, but I would be surprised if that happened, certainly when they are away from Ibrox.
“So if we are at the top of our game at Glebe Park, then hopefully we will be the side to take points off them.
“We are where we are in the league but I still believe that when we have all our players back and fully fit, we will have a really strong squad.”
McKinnon will be without Allan Walker who has injured his knee as well as Bobby Barr, who the manager revealed has been playing through the pain barrier with a hernia that is now to be operated on.
Meanwhile, Lee Wallace is a doubt for Rangers. The full-back was forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad with a knee injury and could also miss the Brechin game.
Dean Shiels is out with a knee problem, while Ross Perry and Chris Hegarty (both ankle) remain on the sidelines.