Elgin City captain Jon-Paul McGovern believes the finest of margins will determine the outcome of League 2 this season.
City are looking to stay within reach of league leaders Stirling Albion, who are eight points ahead of them, when they travel to Forthbank today.
McGovern, who previously played in the fourth tier with the Binos and Clyde, feels there is little to separate any of the teams and the league placings are likely to be tight come the end of the season.
McGovern said: “We can see from the results this season that anyone can beat anyone. It’s just the way the squads are and finances dictate that.
“A lot of teams have got a strong 11, with one or two who can come on and do a job.
“If a team is missing one or two through injury or suspension it can affect form. That’s just the way it is in this league as no team can afford to carry a big squad.
“We have some very good players on the bench, who are chomping at the bit to make sure they are in the starting line-up.
“The most important thing is we are learning as a squad.”
McGovern is well aware of the challenge posed by his former club, where he spent a short spell in 2015, playing just four games before moving on to Clyde in September that year.
The 36-year-old, formerly of Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town, said: “It’s a big game for us, a real test. Stirling have had a fantastic start so far, they have got a good young manager and some really good players.
“They have made some good signings and there is an expectation from a lot of people that they will be up there competing at the top of the league.”
McGovern is refusing to treat Dave Mackay’s side any differently despite Elgin recording an impressive 3-0 win against Montrose last weekend and he added: “We are going into the game full of confidence after a great result, but it wouldn’t have been any different had we lost the game.
“We have got to go into every game with confidence. It’s not arrogance but we know we’ve got players who, on their day, can beat anyone in this league.
“We just have to put our gameplan into action and hopefully get the result.”