Boss Ian Murray believes Airdrieonians’ clash with top of the table Cove Rangers is crucial in a 27-game League One season.
The Diamonds currently sit third in the division and gaffer Murray is targeting a title challenge this term.
With a reduced fixture list in the midst of the pandemic, he reckons it is key to put down a marker at New Broomfield this weekend against the Aberdeenshire visitors.
He told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “It’s crucial in some respects, but every game is important and hard in a shorter season.
“Cove adds a little bit extra because they are top of the league, and losing to Falkirk last weekend shows just how tight the league is.
“It’s going to be a topsy-turvy league but at this point you start to see a pattern.
"We are probably six or seven games away from knowing exactly where everyone is, but the incentive for us is that if we win we move up to at least second place.
“It’s going to be a really tight league this year, especially with the shorter season.
“It’s not often that any league is called after 27 games. It was tight last season in the league, but it will be extra tight this year.
“We are still kicking ourselves at the defeat to Dumbarton a couple of weeks ago when we look back at it.
“The performance wasn’t as bad as some people may have said at the time, and when you play like that it’s important that you stick to it.
“We believe it will click, like it did against Forfar, but we also need to be able to win on the off days.”
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