Rhys Armstrong is hoping for a convincing home win over Queen of the South to ensure the Diamonds progress to the Premier Sports Cup knockout stage.

The Doonhamers visit Airdrie on Saturday for the final group A match after an exciting campaign which has already seen an eight-goal victory, a dramatic late win, and a narrow defeat against Premiership opposition.

While Aberdeen took the points at Pittodrie on Tuesday evening, there was much to admire in a brave Airdrie performance as they looked to take the game to their top-flight opponents.

Speaking after the match, midfielder Armstrong said: “I felt that, especially in the first half, we impacted the game the way we wanted to and went out and played our style of play.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to take from the game.

“It was a great experience for me and a lot of the boys who haven’t played at this level. It was us a good test for us all to see where we are going into the season.”

Queen of the South are in a similar position to the Diamonds, having beaten East Kilbride and Dumbarton and lost to Aberdeen, although Airdrie currently sit second with a superior goal difference.

The winner of Saturday’s match will end the campaign with nine points, and if Aberdeen beat Dumbarton goal difference will come in to play to determine the second-placed teams who progress.

Armstrong says the same approach as Tuesday’s trip to Pittodrie is required.

“If we go into every game like that, we can hopefully do well on Saturday and take that into the league campaign.

“We just need to be as positive as we were in that first half, and we should be fine.”

The Palmerston Park side appointed former Annan boss Peter Murphy in May following Marvin Bartley’s disappointing tenure, and the new manager has recruited the likes of Benjamin Luissint, Kai Kennedy and ex-Diamond Leighton McIntosh.

Rhys is aware of the threat that the Doonhamers will pose, but hopes Airdrie can increase their goal difference with a good win.

“I think it’ll be a tough game, they’ve added a lot of quality.

“We need to go into it the same way we’ve gone into the last three games, go and try to win it and score as many goals as possible.”

Diamonds player-boss Rhys McCabe is a former Queen of the South player himself, and wants a professional approach from his side.

“It’s always a difficult tie. Obviously the new manager has come in, and I know there’s been a bit of a change in personnel.

“They’ll be looking to get a bit of form going into the league after the disappointment of last season, so we’re under no illusions.

“We won’t treat it any differently to the Aberdeen game, we’ll prepare properly and approach the game with the same mentality that we always do.”

Defender Craig Watson was only deemed fit enough for a place on the bench at Pittodrie after picking up a calf strain against Dumbarton, but will be hoping to be available. Midfielder Liam McStravick continues to miss out with a knee injury.

Gavin Duncan is the referee for Saturday’s match at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.

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