Stranraer are expect to play the same team that lost against Berwick Rangers on Saturday. Kevin Gaughan will miss the match through injury.

First Division (and full-time) life proved to be too much for the Wasps. Last season Alloa finished bottom of the First Division with 32 points (Stranraer only got 17 in season 1997-98), having recorded 7 wins, 11 draws and 18 loses.

Terry Christie has had quite a season in charge of Alloa. The Wasps started the season off on a flying, maintaining there promotion intentions for the first 10 matches. a series of loses in early November and December saw them slip down to fifth place (with Stranraer going top during this time). The second half of the season has seen them stay in touch with the promotion battle between Queen of the South, Clydebank and Stranraer, but with Stranraer faltering it is now a three horse race at the top of the table. Two draws against second place Clydebank in four days helped to increase Queens' lead in the Division.

A win on Tuesday night could see Alloa overtake Clydebank and slip into second place, while the same result would me that Stranraer are further in trouble near the relegation zone. Either way, this is a match which both teams would like to collect all three points. Let's hope the Blues can do it!

Which players should Stranraer fans keep an eye on at Recreation Park? Read on and find out...

Gareth Hutchinson is Alloa's top scorer this season with 12 goals to his credit. The tall forward joined the Wasps wfrom Falkirk in July 2001, and since then has played 28 league games. His previous clubs have included Falkirk (1998-2001) where he scored 21 league goals and Stenhousemuir (1994-98) where he scored only two league goals. His time was Stenhousemuir was under the stewardship of Terry Christie, hence his move to Alloa. The last time he found the net was with a hat-trick in late February against Morton. Let's hope he doesn't find his scoring touch on Tuesday!

Jimmy Fisher caught the eye of Terry Christie while he was in charge of Stenhousemuir. The 33 year-old midfielder played over 100 games for Stenhousemuir (from 1992 until June 2001), and scored 9 goals in the process. Although not a recognised scorer he has scored against Stranraer while playing for Stenhousemuir - in a 1-1 draw in December 2000. While at Stenhousemuir he had a reputation as a dead ball specialist (a bit like Davie Farrell). Despite being a fan favourite at Ochilview, he left the team after a "gentleman's handshake" was broken! So far, he has made 22 league appearances for Alloa and scored two goals in the process.

Ross Hamilton was Alloa's top scorer last season with 9 goals to his credit. This season he has scored six goals, with his most recent strike against Stranraer in late February. Ross joined the Wasps from Stenhousemuir for a transfer fee of £25,000 - a new club record. While at Stenhousemuir he played 71 league games and scored 17 goals in the process. Stranraer will have to tighten their defense to keep Hamilton out, since given the opportunity he might repeat his four goal spree like his game against Airdrie last season.

Ian Little's carrier seems to be intimately linked with that of Terry Christie through his association with Livingston and Alloa Athletic. In fact, the 28 year-old player has only played for one other team apart from Alloa and Livingston. He has made more than league 100 appearances for all three teams and has scored no fewer than 21 goals in the process - seven of which have come this season. Despite his small stature, Little is a dangerous player in the Alloa midfield and the goal against Stranraer in February will attest to this.

Harry Curran joined Alloa during the close season after being released by cash strapped Greenock Morton. He is a vastly experienced midfielder and has played at all levels of the game since joining Dumbarton as an 18 year-old in 1984. His previous clubs have included Dumbarton, Dundee United, St. Johnstone, Partick Thistle, Dunfermline, and Morton. Curran isn't frighten of coming forward either as he has scored 55 league goals in 341 games.

From the above list of players it is obvious that Terry Christie believes that experience is what it takes to get back into the First Division. But will it be enough on Tuesday?

Injury Worries: None.

Current League form: W D W L D D

There have not been many connections between Stranraer and Alloa, until this season. After being freed by Stranraer at the end of last season Terry Christie could not believe his luck that a player such as Keith Knox was available. Stranraer boss thought Keith's legs "couldn't last another season" and released the former Blues captain. Christie has a different view of Knox. Shortly after signing Knox, he was quoted on the BBC site as "... one of the best part-time players in Scotland, he has always been a fit player who is competitive, in fact he is a kind of Gary McAllister type of player at a lower level".

Keith is a firm favourite with the fans at Recreation Park after scoring three goals in three games (two of them on the opening day of the season). He has added only one goal to the tally since then, against Hamilton Accies in early February.

If you know of any other connections, please feel free to e-mail me (sandy@stranraerfc.net) with any submissions.