Shire are sitting third bottom of the third division, and face a tough derby tussle with Stenhousemuir at Firs Park tomorrow.

And the stark truth is that Shire must find a way to stop the rot - finishing bottom of the table for the sixth year in a row would see the side stripped of their full membership of the Scottish Football League and lose full voting rights in the process.

Before his departure, Gordon Wylde had tried to remain upbeat about the team's chances, saying: "We have had Stenhousemuir watched and, by some accounts, they have not been playing too well of late.

"We know it will be a tough game, though, and this is when you expect the players to stand up and be counted.

"It's a derby and local pride is at stake. We have impressed that upon the players this week and made sure that they know what they are playing for.

"The good thing about derby games is that sometimes they don't go to form because that local pride element can add a bit of unpredictability."

For the first time in a long time, Shire will have virtually a full squad to choose from.

Long term injury victim Gary Kelly has declared himself fit and centre-half Carl Thywissen has returned from a business trip that caused him to miss the midweek visit to Arbroath.

However, Stephen Oates will now be missing on Saturday after being sent off in Wednesday's game, which ended 2-0 to the Red Lichties.