Gordon Wylde has made Shire difficult to beat at their Firs Park home in the last few months, Elgin were put to the sword there on Saturday 8th August by 2-1. Berwick needed a last minute winner on the second last day of last season and East Fife, Queen's, Albion Rovers and Montrose all left Falkirk without the three points they expected towards the end of last season.
Queen's form against Shire last season was as expected almost. They met them at first in the CIS Cup 1st Round in August and dumped the home side 3-1. Paul Harvey, Mark Ferry and David Weatherston scoring for Queen's. The two sides met again at Hampden in September on league business and Queen's won 3-0 with Harvey, Ferry and youngster John Weir scoring the goals.
Their next meeting was in December at Firs Park, where Spiders came out 4-0 winners. Now Albion Rovers forward Bryan Felvus scored twice and Stephen Reilly and Mark Ferry added the others. The penultimate meeting of the sides was in January when goals from Trouten, Mick Dunlop and Kevin Proctor steered Queen's to a 3-1 win. The final meeting at Firs, in March finished 0-0 despite Queen's dominating play.
TEAM NEWS
Paul Paton returns from suspension and despite picking up red cards on Saturday, Richard Sinclair and Mark Ferry are available. Alan Trouten (groin)and Mick Dunlop (flu) who missed the game at Elgin, are both doubts in the Queen's camp. Stevie Reilly (knee) is also a doubt.
Shire' boss Gordon Wylde has a few knocks to contend with and they are missing big Norwegian centre half Carl Thywissen.
RECENT RESULTS
Tuesday 8th August - Queen's Park 2 - 1 Hamilton - CIS Cup 1st Rd
Saturday 12th August - Elgin City 1 - 2 Queen's Park - Third Division
Tuesday 8th August - Cowdenbeath 4 - 1 East Stirling - CIS Cup 1st Rd
Saturday 12th August - Dumbarton 2 - 0 East Stirling - Third Division
LIKELY LINE UP
XI: David Crawford, Paul Paton, Shaun Molloy, Damiano Agostini, Richard Sinclair, Stephen Canning, Stuart Kettlewell, Tony Quinn, Frankie Carroll, David Weatherston, Mark Ferry
SUBS: Mark Cairns (gk), Mick Dunlop, Jonny Whelan, Richard Bowers, Paul Ronald