Dunfermline vs Queen of South preview - Bell out for Pars

Table toppers Dunfermline are again without midfielder Steven Bell while Andy Dowie and Jake Hyde are struggling to be fit for the home clash with Queen of the South.

The Pars have not played for a fortnight but manager Jim McIntyre said: "We are all looking forward to playing again, however Queen of the South will be very tricky opponents.

"They will be wounded by recent results and be out to get going again.

"Kenny Brannigan has a great squad of players there and they will be boosted by the return of Craig Reid and Colin McMenamin from bans."

Queen of the South travel to East End Park desperate to put a miserable week behind them.

However, they have again been hit with injury as Rocco Quinn, David Weatherston and Daniel Orsi are all set to miss out.

Craig Reid and Colin McMenamin both return from suspension to bolster a side still reeling from a 2-0 ALBA Challenge Cup loss to Ross County and a 4-1 midweek defeat to Morton.

Boss Kenny Brannigan said: "We had a bit of a hangover to the Cup result on Wednesday night but hopefully that is out of our systems now.

"We are not giving anything up and want to finish the season as high in the table as possible and a good atmosphere at Dunfermline will soon get us going again."