After chalking up wins on difficult away trips to places like Livingston and Clyde, he is confident that can happen.

“This will not be easy. A lot of people thought Stirling would get rolled over when they came up to the First Division, but they’ve held there own against some of the bigger clubs in the division already and they’ve played better than their points total suggests,” he said.

“If we are going to come away from there with a win, it will be because we’ve gone about our business in the proper manner.

“The fact we have already done that in tough away games is encouraging, but we must make sure that attitude continues.”

Goalkeeper Ludovic Roy is not quite fit enough to be considered for a return after his calf problem, so Craig Samson will get another opportunity to continue his impressive form.

Changes could come in attack, where Bob Davidson and Jani Sturm started against Dunfermline last week. By the end of the draw with the Pars, though, both Derek Lyle and Jan Zemlik had been introduced and at least one of them looks set to start.

“I’ve a fair idea in my head who the front two are going to be. What’s important is that all four are available, because then, if things don’t quite work out, we have the option of freshening them up.

“It’s nice going into games knowing that, if you make changes during them, you are sending on players who can hurt the opposition.”

Missing out against his old club will be wide man David O’Brien after he had to have a hernia operation that will sideline him for up to six weeks.

“It something that just flared up suddenly,” explained Alex.

“David was in a lot of pain and the best thing all round was to get it seen to straight away and have him back as quickly as possibly, because he is doing well.”