Stranraer vs Queens Park preview - Trio back to boost Blues

Posted Wednesday, May 09, 2012 by PA

Stranraer welcome back Frank McKeown, Ryan Borris and Stephen Stirling as they host Queens Park in the first leg of the Scottish Second Division play-off semi-finals.

The trio's timely return means that Blues manager Keith Knox has a full squad to pick from as the two Third Division sides face off at Stair Park.

Stranraer may have lost their last five league games but Knox is paying scant regard to the poor run, saying: "We rested some players with the play-offs in mind so that statistic is fairly meaningless now.

"There is very little between Queens Park and ourselves and I am sure this tie will not be settled in this first meeting.

"I am hoping that we have a lead to defend going into what we will treat as a cup final at Hampden on Saturday."

Queens Park have injury concerns in midfield.

David Anderson remains out with a hamstring problem and Martin McBride is unavailable due to work commitments.

Neil Parry, James Brough, Ricky Little, Jamie Longworth and Tony Quinn all return to contention after missing out against Elgin on Saturday, with Spiders head coach Gardner Speirs not allowing himself to be fooled by the Blues' poor end to the league season.

Speirs said: "They have lost their last five games but I am sure they have had one eye on the play-offs all along so I am not getting taken in by that.

"We have held the upper hand this season but all the games have been close and I expect this one to be exactly the same."