Paton faces fitness battle
Striker Michael Paton is a doubt for Queen of the South as they look to defeat Hamilton, who are the only side they have not got the better of so far in the Championship this season.
Paton is struggling with a hamstring complaint while Stephen McKenna is definitely out with a hip problem.
Manager Jim McIntyre said: "Hamilton had a disappointing run of results at the start of the year but they have turned that around by winning their last three games.
"We knocked them out of the Scottish Cup but have not beaten them in the league. It would be great to do that and move further away from Dumbarton in the play-off race."
Hamilton, who would go top with a win at Palmerston, are again without Lee Kilday who has an ankle injury and player-manager Alex Neil, who is not yet ready to return after groin surgery.
Neil said: "We have taken nine points out of nine from Queen of the South so far but they beat us in the cup when we were the better team.
"The following week we beat them in the league when they were the better team so there is very little between us.
"All I can ask the boys to do is to do what they have done in their last three matches."
Source: PA
