Dunfermline’s David Graham is refusing to make a meal out of a big shake-up to his usual game-day routine.
Today’s fixture against Hibs is live on ESPN with a 12.30 kick-off, which means Graham has had to take his normal pre-match meal off the menu. But he admits it is a small price to pay for being back in the SPL again.
He said: ”The game is on TV at lunchtime but that shouldn’t be a problem for us. You approach a match the same way whether it is on TV or not.
”The only difference is that you have to change what you have for your pre-match meal as you cannot have something heavy so early in the morning.
”I normally have chicken and pasta but I do not fancy having that for breakfast.
”These early starts are part and parcel of being in the SPL nowadays and you just have to get on with it.”
Hibs are bottom of the league but Graham admits no-one at East End Park is believing the Edinburgh side will be a pushover especially as they have recently added a dangerous player to their squad who the Pars know all about from their time in Division One.
He said: ”It is early doors and I think Hibs are in a false position. They are a massive club and have a good squad of players but I think they are just going through a bad time at the moment.
”Hopefully, that run will continue on Saturday. However, they have added Leigh Griffiths on loan and he is someone we know really well.
”He did well at Dundee and is a sharp player. He has gone down to Wolves and I am sure he has benefited from the coaching there and playing with some top players. He will be a big danger to us.”
Dunfermline produced what their manager Jim McIntyre rated their ”best performance of the season so far” at Kilmarnock last week.
Despite that display, the Pars still left Rugby Park without a point as Killie ran out 3-2 winners.PlauditsGraham revealed that everyone in the Pars squad is well aware that if they do not tighten up defensively, then they will continue to be punished despite receiving plaudits for their fine football.
He said: ”When you look at the stats, there are not many teams who go to Kilmarnock and have more possession of the ball than the home side.
”Ultimately, they did more with it than us but we still felt we should have taken something from the game.
”There were a lot of positives at Kilmarnock but we have to tighten up defensively. We will always create chances but if we continue to concede goals, we will lose games. It is as simple as that.
”It is something we have to address as a team and not just the defence we all have to do our jobs better and keep the opposition at bay.
”I don’t think we have struggled with a step up in quality. I just believe we have to concentrate more as we are punished if we switch off at all.”
Hibernian captain Ian Murray could miss out against Dunfermline after aggravating a knee complaint last week against Aberdeen.
Manager Colin Calderwood describes Murray as a doubt. Garry O’Connor is set to lead the Hibs attack, while midfielder Matt Thornhill could return from the knock which kept him out of the clash against the Dons.
Long-term absentees Phil Airey and Sean Welsh will both miss the trip to Fife.