Bell out of cup clash
Stranraer will be without Steven Bell against East Fife.
Bell will be the Blues only absentee for the League Cup first round tie, with the midfielder nursing an ankle injury.
Stranraer defeated Championship side Dumbarton last Saturday and Stair Park manager Stephen Aitken is hoping that his men show that they can also win when they are favourites
He said: "Against Dumbarton we were the underdogs and there was no pressure on us to win. It is slightly different against East Fife as some people will be expecting us to win as we are in the league above them.
"The players have to handle that expectation and they also need to play well again as East Fife recruited really well over the summer."
East Fife will have Ross Campbell in their squad if the paperwork on his one-year contract is completed in time.
Campbell could start as Caolan McAleer and Jon McShane are both carrying injuries.
Fifers boss Gary Naysmith said: "We never managed to beat Stranraer last season so it would be good to put that right in this cup tie.
"They were the hardest working side in our league last season and the only way we will have a chance of progressing is if we match their work rate. If we don't then our chances of winning go down."
Source: PA
