Airdrie have yet to register a win over Queen’s Park this season – but there’s no time like the present, according to Diamonds defender Craig Ross.

With an early kick-off at The city Stadium on Saturday, Airdrie have a chance to leapfrog the Spiders into eighth place in the William Hill Championship table, and the Diamonds go into the match after a morale-boosting 3-1 over seventh-placed Greenock Morton last weekend.

Goals from Dom Thomas (2) and Charlie McArthur saw Airdrie overturn Michael Garrity’s early opener, with Ian Murray’s side ending the match with nine men following straight red cards for Cammy Ballantyne and Curtis Main.

Ross was pleased with the performance – and a return to normality – after a packed fixture list over January and February culminated in a draining KDM Evolution Trophy semi-final the preceding Wednesday.

“Obviously we know it’s just another win – we need to get a few more in the big games coming up. It’s hopefully a good step into Saturday.

“Even when the game is on Tuesday, you still feel a bit leggy on the Saturday. Obviously with the game on the Wednesday you feel a wee bit worse, but you get through the game.

“It’s good getting back to a normal training week, so everyone should be fresh and ready to go.”

It’s another big one on Saturday as the Diamonds travel to The city Stadium to face Queen’s Park, with both sides desperate for a win as they attempt move away from the wrong end of the table.

The sides drew twice in the first half of the season, Euan Henderson and Tyrece McDonnell exchanging strikes in a 1-1 in August’s meeting in Airdrie before October’s return fixture ended goalless.

The now-departed Josh Fowler netted a brace at the Albert Bartlett in December – as well as escaping a red card for an elbow which left Sean McGinty needing stitches. Henry Fieldson added gloss to the scoreline as the Spiders came away with a 3-0 win.

Sean Crighton’s side currently sit two points and one place above Airdrie in the table, and Ross says personal pride is at stake on Saturday – as well as a potentially massive three points.

“It’s been a frustrating one, we drew with them twice home and away, and then the game at home is just one you need to forget about and move on.

“We’ll be looking forward to trying to get something off them, because it’s frustrating when it feels like a team has got one up on you. You want to rectify that, so hopefully that’s what we can do on Saturday.”

And as they face a Queen’s Park side who have performed better at home, the Diamonds can look to their strong away form, which has seen memorable victories against the likes of Dunfermline Athletic, Raith Rovers and Ross County.

“There’s something about us away from home, as if we enjoy that challenge of having to defend at times and just sucking it up.

“It’ll be a hard place to go, they’re good at home so they’ll be really up for it. We just have to match that and do our stuff well.”

After kicking off the final quarter with a win, the importance of repeating that is not lost on the Diamonds squad – and Craig insists every match will be the same in a run-in which promises to be tense to the end.

“We know what every game is now. Especially Saturday, we have to treat it as just another game.

“Every game’s going to be massive – there’s no point in looking at who’s coming up in the next two or three weeks, you need to focus on the game coming up on Saturday and take care of that.”

Head coach Aaron Taylor-Sinclair says his side will have to be at their best again as they make the short trip to Glasgow’s Southside.

“We’re going into the game with the aim of building momentum after last week’s home win, but despite their most recent result Queen’s Park have been on good form in the league.

“It’ll be another tough test, so it’s one we have to approach right – with the same mindset and mentality as last week.”

News on the club’s injury situation is promising, with midfielder Alex King resuming light training, while defender Aidan Wilson and striker Aaron Reid expect to do the same over the next week or so.

Referee Nick Walsh is in charge of his first match featuring Airdrie this season.

Tickets for Saturday’s match are sold out. Our DiamondsTV video (subscribers outwith the UK and Ireland) and audio (pay-per-match worldwide) streams are available.

Supporters are reminded that the match kicks off at the earlier time of 1:00pm due to the Scotland National Women’s Team fixture at Barclays Hampden later in the day. Because of this event, severe parking restrictions are in place around the stadium and supporters are advised to use public transport if possible.

Parking at The city Stadium is very limited, with entry to the purple car park on Aikenhead Road available on a first-come-first-served basis. Most streets within a one-mile radius are restricted to permit holders only – paid parking may be available at the Glasgow Clyde College, as is free on-street parking in nearby Battlefield and Shawlands.

The city Stadium operates on a cash and card basis, and the public bar will be open to both sets of supporters from 11:00am until kick-off, and again after the match.

Drums and megaphones are not permitted within The city Stadium.