DUNFERMLINE wide man Michael O'Halloran believes that his former St Johnstone manager will have their opponents tough to beat this afternoon.

But he'll put all pleasantries aside in order to try and help the Pars respond to their defeat to Greenock Morton last week and net a crucial three points.

The 33-year-old worked with recently-appointed Queen's Park head coach, Callum Davidson, who previously had a short spell coaching with Athletic, and his assistant, Liam Craig, over three separate spells with the Perth Saints, enjoying a Scottish Cup with in 2014, and the Scottish Cup and League Cup double in 2021.

They'll be on opposite sides this afternoon in a crucial Championship game as Dunfermline, just one place and one point above the ninth-placed Spiders, look to respond to their humbling by Greenock Morton last weekend.

Dunfermline Press:

"I obviously played under him a while and he’s got Liam in there as well," O'Halloran said.

"I know they’ll be difficult to beat. Any team gets a boost when a new manager comes in and they’ve had a few positive results lately.

READ MORE: 'Hopefully we can give them something to cheer': Pars star aims to repay fans

"For ourselves, you’re obviously aware of the opposition. The gaffer and Dave go through that with us, and we’ll be well aware of the threats they possess, but, more importantly, it’s about us and how we go and stamp our authority on the game.

"It’s about putting last weekend to bed, almost, and giving the fans something to cheer about, hopefully.

READ MORE: Athletic availability update ahead of Queen's Park clash

"That’s got to be the focus. I’m not taking away from the threat they possess, but it’s about what we do, I think, especially when we’re at home. We want to go and influence the game early and take it to them.

"He’s only been in a few games (Davidson), so it will maybe take him a while to get the team playing whatever way he wants to set them up.

"My concern is us here at Dunfermline. That’s my total focus, and that’s it."

Although a defeat would see Queen's Park jump above the Pars, a win for the hosts this afternoon would push them up to sixth, and just five points adrift of fourth-top Greenock Morton.

"I’ve never experienced it before. I knew coming in it was highly competitive and you can see that," O'Halloran continued.

"Look at Morton, for example, they were down - and now they’re up in the play-off positions. It’s a bit crazy, isn’t it? A few results either way can put you at one end of the table or the other.

"We know that and we know we’re more than capable as a group and a team. We’ve got really good players in there who can go and make a difference and hopefully get us up in the positions we want to be in, and challenging for the play-off places.

"Not Saturday, but it’s enjoyable being in such a competitive league. For me, what I’ve found is everybody plays to win.

"In the top league, I don’t want to say you’re playing not to get beat, but you’re setting up in a way to nullify the opposition, whereas here, it’s more like everybody’s going for it. If you look at it, everybody’s capable of beating everybody, aren’t they?

"That’s what you want. As a neutral it must be entertaining, to look at the table and it’s really competitive. It’s enjoyable playing in it as well.

"For me, and there’s a few of us in the squad, I always go and try to influence the game in a positive way.

"So, no matter how we set up and whatever game I’m playing in, it’s about doing that and trying to influence my team and the game."