After climbing off the foot of the League One table last weekend, Brechin City’s next goal is getting away from the relegation play-off spot.
And a result against Ayr United this afternoon could give them the chance of doing just that the following week in the Angus derby.
Glebe Park boss Darren Dods said: “Forfar are the team above us and we play them at the start of the new year.
“Getting something at Ayr to put us in a position to go above them in the derby is an incentive for us.”
Dods added: “For the players to see that we’re off the bottom of the table at Christmas is a big boost.
“It was great to get the win against Stranraer last weekend.
“The team is starting to gel and you can see the confidence getting greater.
“We’ve got more firepower in the team now and that means that heads don’t go down if we lose a goal in a game.”
Dods won’t be available today due to suspension. He will also be restricted in his managerial duties as a result – a double punishment he believes is “very harsh”.
There are no fresh injuries to report, though.
Ayr have made an eye-catching loan signing in Ryan Stevenson, and Dods believes Ian McCall’s men have put down a marker.
“I think that shows that they will probably keep strengthening in January,” he said. “Dunfermline will probably do the same.
“But we drew with Ayr earlier in the season and we’re looking to take something from the game.”