Manager on Friday

Kevin Rutkiewicz, Nick Phinn and Steven Bell out of match against the Caley Jags. Fife Cup Semi Final confirms the Rovers return to East End.

Jim McIntyre knows that Terry Butcher's side will put up a stiff fight for points at East End Park on Saturday:-

"Inverness will come to Dunfermline determined to pick their first points up. Likewise we want to build on the point that we have picked up so it will be a really hard game.

Inverness have traditionally been a big strong team but the Manager guarded against assuming too much based on previous experiences:-

"They have made wholesale changes; they have changed a lot of personnel and brought in some really good players, dangerous players and very good footballers as well."

Last season Inverness succeeded in doing what the Pars are seeking to do this season - consolidate their position in the SPL:-

"If you look at Inverness, St Johnstone, and Hamilton the season before, it has given us a belief that it can be done. We will be trying to do that this season."

The Highlanders finished seventh last season with 53 points and have started this season off with two defeats but that will not lull the Pars into any false sense of security:-

"I watched them against Motherwell and up until the first goal, it was very equal. We also had them watched against Hibs and the report we received said they deserved to have taken something out of the game.  However, I expect them to kick on and start moving up the table."

The St Mirren game that saw the Pars struggle to compete in its initial stages was perhaps a reality check on expectations but there were no surprises there for Macca and his men:-

"The players and the staff here are well aware how difficult it is to move up a league. Because other teams have done it, it doesn't mean to say that it is going to happen to us. We have got to make it happen and to achieve that we need to work incredibly hard and make sure that we take our chances when they come around. At the same time we must limit our mistakes because the higher you go your mistakes are punished."

That was exactly the way Dunfermline won promotion inflicting pain for mistakes made against them:, Jim added "You have got to be careful and make sure that you are doing things properly."

For the visit of Inverness, Dunfermline will be without the services of Kevin Rutkiewicz, Nick Phinn and long term injury Steven Bell.

Inverness striker Billy MacKay and defensive midfielder Lee Cox are looking doubtful with ankle and groin injuries respectively. Josh Meekings will also be out having not recovered from an injury sustained in pre-season. Gregory Tade has been ruled fit for the game having picked up a knock last week against Hibernian. New signing Chris Hogg could feature in the squad while Aaron Doran may start his first full match since signing from Blackburn Rovers.

In other news Dunfermline will face Raith Rovers in the Fife Cup on Tuesday 30th August. The match will take place at East End Park and will kick off at 7.00pm.