Blue Brazil excited by return to action

Cowdenbeath manager Maurice Ross admits his side have been champing at the bit to return to playing after a two-week hiatus with a trip to Gretna 2008.

The Blue Brazil found themselves without a game for successive Saturdays following their exit from the South Challenge and Scottish Cup but make the trip to Raydale Park looking to get their Lowland League campaign back on track.

Ross said: “It did feel a wee bit pointless training without a game on a Saturday, so we gave the players the week off which was a chance to refresh their minds more than their bodies if anything.

“They are a very professional group who look after themselves anyway so hopefully it will have helped them.

“We have had a bit of a sickness bug as well so we couldn’t train on

Thursday which wasn’t the ideal preparation, but we couldn’t risk it spreading.

“We obviously beat Gretna 3-0 at our place earlier in the season so they will maybe feel they’ll have a point to prove and want to give us one back.”

Cowden’s Ewan Thomson sits out as he serves a one-match ban.

● Kelty Hearts come up against new Peterhead manager David Robertson at New Central Park.

The former Aberdeen and Rangers defender has succeeded Jim McInally in the Blue Toon hot seat and will take charge for the first time this afternoon.

Kelty boss John Potter, whose side have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, said: “We’ve got players that can hurt teams – we just need to do a little more in both boxes at the moment, which we’ve worked on this week.”