For the second week running his attempted spying mission on the Can Cans' fourth round Scottish cup opponents was cancelled as the frost took its toll, but at least this time round he knew that before he left the house. Rowley revealed that he was well on his way the week before when he got news of the postponement.

"They were playing Cowdenbeath the week before and I was on the road between Aberdeen and Dundee when I got the news. This week, the game was off far earlier, so we haven't had a chance to look at them.

"It is not a huge disadvantage, I would assume that they are in the same boat and won't have had a chance to watch us either, but it was a bonus in the previous rounds to get the chance to see how they play and to pick out any dangermen.

"It is especially important for set pieces where you can note the big strikers or centre backs who are involved. We will phone Robbie Williamson to see if he has got anything on them that may be useful and we will also try and get in touch with Derek Ferguson at Stranraer, who they beat in the last round.

"Robbie has seen them play a few times, but Derek would have a more recent appraisal of their approach and form. We have certainly been checking the reports and it seems that once they get one in front they are pretty hard to break down. It is clear they will be very well organised, but nothing sparkling. They haven't thrashed many teams this season, that includes Brora, but they have had a couple of decent wins of late."

The weather watch continues, not only with Station Park in mind but also to give the players the chance to train on Mosset Park and get some short, sharp games and ball work under their belts after the more pounding road work of the last couple of weeks.

"We are hoping for good weather up here so we can train properly. We have been on the road for the last two training sessions and although that gives us a good base fitness, hopefully, things will improve so we can get on the park and give the players that sharpness they will need. We trained last Tuesday and Saturday so we have been ticking over.

"Obviously, the weather at Forfar will be a concern as they have had a lot of games off. I am hoping it does go ahead this Saturday and we do have a big travelling away support which, by the sounds of the reports in the 'Gazette', we could well have. It will be a boost to the players to have our fans making the majority of the noise and getting behind the team and we intend to put on a good show for those who make the trip."

On the team news front, despite a number of players having been affected by the flu, things are looking relatively positive apart from the well documented suspension of Neil Whyte.

"Neil being out is a blow, but we have known about it for a few weeks now so we just have to adjust and, as I have said, we are disappointed for Neil himself, more than anything. It does give an opportunity to someone else to come in and make a mark.

"We do have strength in depth in the middle of the park and Hamish Munro is available from this round on, so he is one that could come in.

Ultimately, it will be a personnel change rather than a tactical one. We won't vary much from the 4-4-2 or maybe 4-5-1 formations that we have used over the past 12 months, especially as we haven't seen them."

While replacing Neil Whyte is one decision, the other is who to play at centre-half alongside Nathan Sharp. Graeme Grant has missed the last two matches and Bruce Milne filled in during the wins against Dalbeattie Star and Nairn County.

Rowley added: "Bruce has done well in the last two games and Graeme Grant is fully fit again, so a decision will have to be made, but it is a good decision to make in the sense that you are being positive and have two strong options rather than it being a case of trying to replace someone who is out injured."

"Apart from that, we are pretty much at full strength. Whytey's suspension and Ross Duncan being cup tied are the main two items of note in terms of team news."

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