It’s a meeting of two sides in very different form as Stirling Albion kick off a double-header with Cove Rangers at the Balmoral Stadium on Saturday.
The two sides clash on league business this weekend, before reuniting at Forthbank next weekend for a Scottish Cup third round match.
It looks to be a daunting test for the out-of-sorts Binos, who have won just one of their last nine games in the league and make the long trip north off the back of a 5-0 mauling at the hands of Hamilton Accies.
By contrast, Cove have recovered from a slow start to romp all the way to third on the back of five straight League One wins - with the last four wins all coming via a 1-0 scoreline.
Paul Hartley’s men are unbeaten in league action since a defeat to Alloa on 2 September and boast two of the league’s top marksmen in ex-Falkirk striker Rumarn Burrell and club legend Mitch Megginson.
The two sides’ first meeting this season was a pulsating affair in front of the TV cameras, with Stirling twice taking the lead before being pegged back by ten-man Cove courtesy of a stoppage time volley from Connor Scully.
Stirling boss Darren Young recognises his side are in a tough spot with form and injuries, but hopes a 45 minute meeting after the Hamilton match will provide a spark to the dressing room.
Young said: “We knew it was going to be a hard season, there was no one getting excited and we are a few bodies down as well at the moment.
“We’re missing Spenny, Davo, Josh was suspended, Scouse was out and Dale will be suspended as well and that was silly what he did at the end [of the Hamilton match] to give the referee the option there.
“One of the things we touched on was being too quiet out on the park, in the dressing rooms, guys like Davo and
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