Dean Cairns is confident that Airdrie can continue this season's unbeaten record against Queen's Park as the Diamonds prepare to travel to Hampden.

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The versatile 20-year-old missed last week's home match against Raith Rovers through injury, and says it was a frustrating experience watching from the dug-out.

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"I had picked up an ankle injury ahead of the game. It wasn't too bad but we didn't want to risk it, so I just sat on the bench. It's better now, so I'm fully fit for Saturday.

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"We got off to a bad start against Raith, and if you go 2-0 down against a team like that it's always going to be tough - but I thought the boys did well in the second half and we were unlucky not to get something out the game."

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With a mid-table finish looking increasingly likely, Cairns says there are no issues over motivation within the squad.

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"Next season is looking like a big one, so all the boys are out to impress the gaffer.

 

"We still want to get as many points on the board as we possibly can, so as always our only aim is to win the next game - if we do that this week I think it gives us a big enough gap to secure our place in the league."

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The task in hand this Saturday is a trip to Hampden Park to face bottom side Queen's Park.

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Dean says the scrap for survival will mean the Spiders will be a difficult proposition.

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"They're fighting for their lives, so it'll be a tough 90 minutes. It always is against Queen's Park, but they haven't beaten us this season so we'll go into the game with confidence.

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"It's always a good day out at Hampden, it's a nice big pitch so it's the perfect place to get the ball down and play football.

 

"We know we've got a good enough team to go there and get the win."

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Diamonds boss Stevie Findlay is also expecting another tough scrap against his former employees.

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"It'll be a typical physical battle - it always is against them, and they'll be looking for any chink of light to close the gap. For us it's about going and winning the game and making it mathematically impossible for us to get drawn into that.

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"We need to show that we're capable of performances like the second half last week, and leaving the rest behind."

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Referee Mat Northcroft is in charge of his second Airdrie game this season, having officiated the 2-0 defeat at Stark's Park in September.