Manager on Friday

14/01/11 JM:- "I think both teams know each other very well; it will be all about trying to get the better of them.

Jim McIntyre and his players are looking forward to Saturday's match against Dundee but following the SFA decision to uphold the 25 point penalty deduction for going into administration, he feels that will make very little difference to the Dark Blues:-

"I think going into administration has been enough of a motivation to them. They have won their last six league games and have done fantastically well. Of course it will be a difficult game but we are unbeaten at home and we want to preserve that. We are top of the league and want to stay there; that will be the great motivation for us.

"Barry Smith has done a tremendous job in very difficult circumstances and they've got a team that is right up there with the best in this division."

The Dundee Manager has watched Dunfermline against both Cowdenbeath and Montrose and Dunfermline have run their eye over the Dens Park side including their cup tie where they lost 4-0 at home to Motherwell.

Macca added:- "I think both teams know each other very well; it will be all about trying to get the better of them. At the moment they can still put out a very strong starting eleven and we will need to be at our best. There will be a good atmosphere because I think that there will be a big crowd. Our fans can make a big difference and I ask them to get behind us because they can make a big impact."

The squad, which adds Joe Cardle to last week's cup tie 16, trained at Pitreavie on Friday and after using facilities in Hamilton and Toryglen earlier in the month. Jim McIntyre can't wait for training to return to normality:-

"Although we are lucky to be able to access alternative facilities, it is far from ideal having to train and then go. At Pitreavie we can sit down and spend time together, I hope we can back there on a regular basis."