No big game feel for McCracken as 'one game at a time' mantra remains in place

Only three points separate the Bairns at the top of the League 1 table and Cove in second place as the two sides go head to head at The Balmoral Stadium.

Despite the implications the result of the match could have on the title race, McCracken says they aren’t approaching this game any differently to every other game this season.

He said: "We continuously repeat that the next game is always the most important and it's the same situation.

"We won't treat it any differently, it's another opportunity to get three points and push on to what we're trying to achieve.

"The boys are focused as always, we haven't veered away from our normal preparation.

"There's no point trying to treat one game differently from another because that's how you end up with different levels of standards.

"Results elsewhere will happen, we can't affect them in any way so we just fully focus on the games we have and the points we need to get.

"The pressure is always there, it's been there since the start of the season, no matter the game."

Cove enter Saturday’s match unbeaten in the league since football returned from hiatus in January and, despite missing key players in Harry Milne and Jamie Masson, still have a number of talented individuals in their ranks.

Up front they have not one but two dangermen in Mitch Megginson and Rory McAllister, McCracken’s former teammate at Peterhead and the SPFL’s all time leading goal scorer.

"We know Cove have good players,” said McCracken.

"A number of them I know personally and the others we know previously from playing them.

"We'll prepare based on our analysis that we've done on their recent games.

"Most teams have players that you need to watch and with McAllister and Megginson upfront we know what Cove can do.

"We have to deal with whatever they will bring to the game, once we deal with that and the rest of their strengths we have to utilise our own to win the game."