Alex Burke's Stirling effort

"They're playing to impress the manager and they'll want to finish the season as high up as possible. We would also hope to take a good end of season into th

Alex Burke admits to knowing very little about Stirling Albion but that's hardly surprising given his last match against the Binos was almost seven years ago. Back in season 2000-01 Alex scored three times in two matches against them while playing for Clydebank. Today he will be hoping to take up from where he left off:-

"I don't know much about them but I know they'll be fighting for their lives so I'm sure it will be a tough game. They need points so they'll be up for it."

Since Burkie has just joined Dunfermline in February, he will not have the painful memory of the last Pars trip to Forthbank but he sees that 3-0 defeat as a possible advantage:-

"Hopefully the boys can use that as an incentive. If you did play in it you'll want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Everybody's playing for their future. They're playing to impress the manager and they'll want to finish the season as high up as possible. We would also hope to take a good end of season into the start of next."

Having slipped a league place in midweek when Partick Thistle won their outstanding match 2-1 against Livingston, Jim McIntyre's men will be out to ensure that they can work their way back to a more respectable final position:-

"You have to target the team above you, that's got to be the aim. We've just got to go there and try to take the three points. Queens don't play so a win would take us to within a point of them and we play them soon. You've always got to look up the way and be positive. You can't start worrying about what's behind you."

Alex got off the mark last Saturday against Livingston:-

"I was delighted to get my first goal and I'd like to think I can chip in with my fair share. Coming from the left side of midfield I'll be looking to chip in as well and hopefully I'll bag a few over the course of the season. I won't set myself a target but I'll be demanding that I chip in more than my fair share."

The match will pitch Alex up against two of the younger lads on loan from St Mirren, Ryan McCay and Craig Molloy:-

"I know them well. They've both played in the St Mirren first team. Ryan's played a few times this year and Craig's been very unlucky with injury.

He broke his metatarsal, came back and it went again. He's been out for quite a while. Prior to that he was in the team. Both are only 20 or 21 and obviously they'll be going to Stirling to get a run of games. I'm quite friendly with both of them and they're nice lads but hopefully I can get one over on them."

Icing on the cake this week has been the two year deal that Alex has signed on for at Dunfermline:-

"I'm obviously delighted and hope that we can finish the season on a high. I'm not worried about stepping down from the SPL to the First Division. Hopefully it's only for a season. You want to play at the highest level you can but I feel as if I'm joining a big club as well. The manager's ambitious to get back up and so am I."