O'Neill said: "The game has come too soon for Gary Fusco, Charlie King has a hamstring problem, John Ward is still out and it's likely that John Seeley will miss the game through work commitments.

"So we are once again down to the bear bones and it may be that some of the guys who played as "trialists" against Arbroath last week may feature again.

"This will be a very different Arbroath side that is out on Saturday, one with far more experience at this level and one that has started the season pretty well after their promotion.

"They went and gained a point at Peterhead and could have won the game and they were unfortunate not to come away from Ayr with anything. They are no mugs and they have plenty players who have a decent level of ability.

"We have to concentrate on our own performances, however, and they have been decent so far.

"We are looking to be more clinical when we are on top and take advantage of long spells of possession.

"I do feel the week's break has benefited a lot of our players. However, while sometimes you don't want to stop when you are undefeated in the league, this was an opportunity for a group of our lads to get some much needed rest.

"You have to bear in mind that it has been virtually the same starting eleven from the start of the season, albeit with a wee tweak here and there and that, in itself, means players can get jaded.

"Derby games are great for coming back to. They aren't always about who plays the best football, but sometimes more about the side that simply battles the hardest and Arbroath will certainly give us a battle.

"I think our supporters have missed games against the likes of Arbroath, Forfar and Montrose and secretly a lot of them will have been pleased when Arbroath came up, simply to get that 'derby' atmosphere.

"We have to get wins on the board again, especially at home, and the fact that we have some tough games coming up on the road makes your home games vital. We want to be up their challenging and the only way you do that is by winning your homes games.

"Hopefully the local punters will turn out in force and get right behind us.

"It's like phase two of what is a long, tough campaign, but at the minute we are relishing every minute of it."