David Partridge, Stephen Pearson and Daniel Sengewald are all out with suspensions and it is likely Ramsay and Lasley will be unavailable with injuries. The one positive sign is that Scott Leitch is free from his ban and could return to the starting line up. James McFadden is presumably fit – whether he deserves to play after his petulant showing last week is another matter entirely.
Francois DuBourdeau has served his time watching Stevie Woods for long enough this season and he has seized his chance when it was offered to him. If his confidence on crosses continues to grow, he will make the starting position his own. However, he may be losing some sleep at night regarding the four or five who will be playing in front of him on Sunday. Hammell and Cowan will be the full backs and Martyn Corrigan will certainly be somewhere in the middle. With Partridge and Sengewald unavailable, William Kinniburgh may be called upon. The alternative is moving Dirk Lehmann back, but with Celtic’s large defence, Terry may feel we have to keep a physical presence up front.
The midfield is also a cause for concern. Derek Adams and Scott Leitch will shoulder most of the responsibility and Terry could well gamble and throw Faddy into the middle of the park. In the absence of Lasley and Pearson, one of McDonald and Fagan is certain to start and the other might get on as well.
Up front, Stevie Ferguson will definitely be there but it is anyone’s guess if he will be joined by Kemas, Lehmann, McFadden or left on his own. Whatever the decision, the strikers will have their work cut out. It is essential they hold up the ball to give the defence a rest and keep the morale of the side up with the occasional venture forward.