Two sides who have turned their seasons around meet at Borough Briggs tonight when Elgin City host East Stirling in a League 2 match.
Both clubs are pushing for a place in the end of season promotion play-offs after a dramatic improvement in results in 2015.
A push for League 1 looked unlikely from either club at the end of January as they occupied the bottom two places in Scottish football. However, victory in this game will put a top-four place in sight for either the Moray Men or Shire.
Elgin, despite Saturday’s defeat by Queen’s Park, can move to within a point of East Fife, who occupy the last play-off berth, and manager Jim Weir said: “We have done well recently and East Stirling have been terrific also. For the two of us to be looking to be involved in the promotion play-offs so soon after being at the bottom shows how things have improved.”
Weir added: “I am glad we have this game so soon after Saturday’s disappointment as it is still annoying me. Queen’s Park are a good side but we lost two bad goals and missed chances. If we win this game we are right back in the chase.
“As well as ensuring that we look up the way a win would create a gap on Clyde and Berwick Rangers beneath us.”
On-loan Dundee winger Jamie Reid could start as Mark Nicolson, Archie MacPhee and Daniel Moore are doubtful.
Former Elgin defender Craig Tully, the Shire manager, said: “We have had five wins in seven games so it has been a decent run and we will look to keep it going. A victory would pull us level with East Fife which is a great turnaround. However, Elgin do not lose often at home and will be very dangerous opponents.
“The players deserve great credit for the way they have climbed back up the way and I have told them to keep looking up the way and not down.
“We played well in the 2-0 win over East Fife on Saturday and will need that same level of performance to win at Borough Briggs.”
Adam Ashgar remains out injured, so Tully heads north with the same squad that defeated the Fifers with Connor Greene added after serving a suspension.