DUNFERMLINE boss James McPake has said that he is eager for his team to progress into the knockout stage of the Premier Sports Cup for the first time in his tenure this season.

After playing four pre-season friendlies, Athletic kick off their competitive fixtures at League Two The Spartans this afternoon in the first of their Group E ties.

Forfar Athletic, Livingston and Cove Rangers are the other teams in the section as the Pars look to reach the last 16 for the first time in three years.

That is a statistic the boss, who will be without Matty Todd, who is preparing to have surgery on a broken collarbone sustained in their first warm-up match against East Fife, is keen to address.

Dunfermline Press:

"We are disappointed that we have not managed to get through the group stages at Dunfermline," he commented.

"That’s something that we are desperate to put right because we got through them every year at Dundee. We want to put that right because not getting through is not something that we have been proud of.

"They are always tough. Look at St Mirren who qualified for Europe - they went out in the group stages last year. You just take it game by game in this cup.

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"It is a difficult time for every team with important games coming so quick. The Spartans beat Dundee United in their first game last year, they comfortably put Arbroath out the Scottish Cup as well so we are under no illusion that it will be a tough game and it’s a big game as well."

Captain Kyle Benedictus echoed his manager's thoughts about aiming to get out of the group, but is expecting a tough test in Edinburgh this afternoon.

"Like every other team, we’re desperate to get through, but we know how difficult a game we’ve got against Spartans," he commented.

"We’re under no illusions as a squad what we’ll be up against. Spartans are a good team, they had a good season last season, and it will be a very tough game. So, we need to be prepared, but we’re hoping to kick-start the new season with three points.

"The manager has been stressing to us that they beat Dundee United in the League Cup, and they put Arbroath out of the Scottish Cup, and Hearts needed a last-minute winner against them as well (in last season's Scottish Cup).

"So we know they’re a good team and we’re under no illusions. We’ll go there to battle our corner and try to play our game, and hopefully it’s enough to come out with three points."

Press Sport will have live updates from this afternoon's match.