Manager on Friday

"I'd rather have the headache of a squad of 20 to choose from than struggling to pick a team because of injuries. The more better players you get back, the better it is."

Jim McIntyre is hoping his team can put on a show on Saturday to demonstrate just how badly he wants to achieve a top four finish. With seven league matches remaining the Pars are 12 points behind third placed St Johnstone but fourth placed Queen of the South are only three ahead and the Dumfries side come to East End Park on the last day of the season.

"We need to take some of the chances that we have been creating. Dundee will be coming, flying high pushing for promotion, so in a way it is a good game for us. They will bring a few supporters and generate a good atmosphere."

The Pars gaffer is well aware that the matches against Dundee this season has been very close affairs with Dundee winning once (1-0) on their last visit to East End Park and the two games at Dens Park ending all square with 0-0 and 1-1 draws.

"Hopefully we can win by the odd goal tomorrow. You want to win to finish in at least fourth place because the Scottish Cup place."

Macca wants to finish as high up as he can and a top four place means a bye when the other First Division clubs are first involved in the Scottish Cup. He acknowledges that Dunfermline have drawn too many games of late, especially at home:-

"People forget how good a run Queen of the South have been on. They are a decent side but our boys are working their backsides off and not conceding a lot. We have been keeping things tight at the back, we just need to be a little more clinical as a team and look for goals from all areas."

There is no prospect of the Pars boss blooding young talent at least until the league position is certain:-

"Right now all I am thinking about is putting my strongest team out on the park. That is the way I will keep approaching things. Maybe with the last few games to go, we will see what position we are in then, we'd maybe think about giving some of the young boys a start. You give young boys a start if you think they are ready for a start. That is what you'd base it on, not because we have a couple of games left."

Dundee will be without on loan Hibee, Mikael Antoine-Curier who starts a two match suspension and Paul McHale who has a hamstring injury.

Injured Milan Palenik (knee) and Gavin Swankie (calf) are both unlikely to make the trip to KY12 although last week's victim Gary MacKenzie is likely to be teamed up with Colin McMenamin, available before starting a two game ban. Jim McIntyre preferred not to dwell on the opposition:-

"We'll just look after our own and prepare the way we would normally prepare. They are playing for promotion so I expect it to be a tough game and they have got decent players to come in a replace these ones."

Dunfermline's squad has few injury worries with just Greg Ross ruled out. Darren Young and Scott Muirhead (even after the X ray on his collar bone) came through Tuesday night's friendly against San Juan Jabloteh but the gaffer's policy will be to reward those who have played well while in the team.

"Continuity for everybody is better but there might be the odd occasion when you'd need to change somebody but in the main that is the way I like to do it. The good thing from our point of view is getting these injured boys back. They have been out for a while and it is great to see Scott Muirhead and Darren Young back on the playing field.

"I'd rather have the headache of a squad of 20 to choose from than struggling to pick a team because of injuries. The more better players you get back, the better it is."