GAVIN EMERSON is confident that his Dunfermline players can stand up to the physicality of opponents Strathmore ahead of a mouthwatering clash on Saturday.
The McKane Park club's senior men's first XV will travel to Forfar sitting in second place, one place and one point ahead of their hosts, in National League Division Four.
However, the West Fifers have played two games more, with Strathmore boasting six wins from six, including at leaders Ardrossan Academicals last time out.
Dunfermline head north on the back of a 78-7 home win over North Berwick and, although they lost both matches with Strathmore last term, head coach Emerson is excited by the challenge.
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"In the league table, they're sitting behind us because they have two games in hand, so, obviously, if they get the bonus points in those games, they'll actually go to first place, and we'll drop to third place," he said.
"We know Strathmore. We were quite close with them when they came to us (last season), and they ran away with it a wee bit near the end up there, but it was the physicality department that they managed to get on top of us on there.
"I'm quite confident to say that, this season, we've worked hard in those areas - the physicality and attack and defence - so I'm quite excited to see where it goes because for us, if we lose the game, we've still got a bit of comfort that we'll stay in third anyway due to the numbers of points we have versus the people underneath us.
"I think it's a bit of pressure for Strathmore more than us because they need to win that game to try and get up to the first place point, so we can go in there with a little bit less pressure on us, but also I want to throw the kitchen sink at them. I want to get a win up there because I think we're capable of it.
"We'll see how we go. It's always a good game up Strathmore. I remember that from a player and as a coach.
"They've got a good crowd - a solid supporting crowd, shall we say. Very vocal. They love their Strathmore rugby and they've built something really special up there, so it's always nice if you manage to get a win up there as well."
Dunfermline had a weekend free of action in the build-up to the match, which starts at 2pm, and Emerson added: "I'm looking forward to it.
"If everything stays on track, we have them at McKane last game of the season. It could be a promotion game for them, it could be us trying to solidify ourselves into second place or something like that, so, it's all lined up to be exciting.
"It'd be great to get the win up there and that even adds a little bit more pressure for when they come back to McKane at the end of the season.
"It would put a bit of pressure on to Strathmore and to Ardrossan, if we were to get a win up there as well, because it puts us closer to them as well.
"I think if we turn up and just be as physical as we have been and just give it a good shot, we've shown we're not that far away from Ardrossan and Strathmore didn't beat Ardrossan by much.
"I don't think there's too much between the three of us. I guess it's just who's going to be more clinical under pressure on the day."
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