HEAD COACH Gavin Emerson believes this Saturday's trip to face the runaway league leaders is one his Dunfermline players should relish.

And he believes his side can cause table-toppers Garnock problems with their attacking game - but that they need to show more physicality in defence.

Following a free weekend, men's National League Division Four action returns on Saturday, with the McKane Park club's first XV making the trip to Ayrshire to face a side who have won each of their 14 matches.

That included a 46-14 success in November at McKane, in which Dunfermline did score a try-scoring bonus point, and Emerson is hopeful his team's attacking game can yield dividends this weekend.

They're looking to bounce back from a 64-31 reverse at home to Strathmore, who sit third, in their last outing, and Emerson said: "As a player I would relish those games because they are the real physical battles, and you get a good test, but we just need to get the boys' mindsets right, or the boys need to have their mindsets right going into that, and know it's going to be a battle.

"We need to really fight, hold on to any sort of possession we get, and just win those close-quarter defensive battles.

"As a coach, it depends what the guys are like that day, but, as a player, I'd be loving those games, absolutely knowing that everything's going to be a battle. You get what you work for in those games as well - they're not going to give us anything easy, especially with the momentum that they've built in this league.

"They're probably going to win the league in a week or two's time, so coming away from there with a couple of points would be brilliant for us.

"When we played them last time, we came away with a try bonus point, so we're capable of scoring, it's just not giving them anything for free when they're attacking. We just need to be ruthless in defence, get the low shots in, and just get back on our feet and back into the game.

"We know what we need to prepare for. It's just making sure the guys are recovered from last week and are ready to go for it again."

Kick off on Saturday is at 2pm.

Meanwhile, in Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Two, Dunfermline's second XV go to Aberfeldy (2pm) and, in Division Three, Rosyth Sharks host Bo'ness in a 2pm kick off at Harley Street, looking to respond to their 30-17 loss to Bannockburn in their last outing.

On Sunday, Dunfermline's Ladies side go to Wigtownshire (2pm) in their latest Women's National Shield encounter.

After losing their opener at home to Annan, they awarded a 28-0 win over Cartha Queen's Park second XV in what would've been their second game, which didn't take place due to their opponents having insufficient players to fulfill the fixture.