Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart intends to give both his goalkeepers the chance to impress.
The Jags boss will use both Daniel Bell and Ryan Booth in the coming weeks, with Bell given the nod to start today’s home match against Strathspey Thistle.
With other games falling to the wintry weather, the Jags can climb two places to fourth in the Highland League table with a win.
Stewart said: “Competition for places is healthy so it’s a good position to be in.
“I’m going to rotate them as Daniel is suspended for the Highland League Cup match against Keith next month so they will both get plenty of games. It is good to see Ryan doing well. He’s a young goalkeeper with a lot of potential.
“He played in our 2-1 win at Huntly last week but I’m looking at starting Daniel against Strathspey as Ryan has picked up a wee knock.
“He will be back in goal the following week after and then I intend to rotate them for the following couple of matches as well.”
Stewart is hoping his side’s match against the Grantown team gets the go-ahead with a pitch inspection planned for 10am. He added: “We are on a good run at the moment and we want to finish as high up the table as possible.
This is the best we’ve played all season.
“The team spirit is as good as it’s been and we are the fittest we’ve been.
“We had a five or six game spell when confidence was low but I can’t see us losing a game for the next while.”
Stewart, meanwhile, insists he will be cheering on Fraserburgh in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup match against Rangers – risking the wrath of his father-in-law Jimmy Nicholl, the Ibrox side’s assistant manager.
He said: “I’m going along to the game looking for a Broch win.
“I don’t suppose Jimmy will like it but a Fraserburgh win would be really great news for the whole Highland League.
“I also think Brora Rangers have a great chance of progressing to the fifth round with a win at East Fife. They went to Stranraer and won 1-0 in the last round and Stranraer are above East Fife in League 1, so why not?”
Strathspey Thistle manager Ally Munro is also hoping the Victoria Park match passes the pitch inspection.
He said: “We only have two players missing for the Buckie game.
“Our left back Kai Taylor is out with a shin problem and Reece Barton is unavailable through work commitments.
“I was up watching Buckie earlier this month and I know they do have a few injury issues so maybe this is a good time to be playing them.”
