Chris Aitken will once again be unavailable for Stranraer's clash with promotion rivals Annan.

The midfielder has had a plaster removed from his broken foot but is not match fit as yet.

Despite winning 3-0 at Galabank at the beginning of December, Blues manager Keith Knox is taking nothing for granted against Harry Cairney's men.

"Annan had good spells in that game where if they had scored the outcome may have been very different so we know that we have to be at our best again," said Knox.

"I want us to play good football and be top at the Third Division at the end of 2011 and the only way we can do that is to win the game."

Annan will be without Michael McGowan.

The full-back is suspended following his dismissal against Berwick last Saturday but Aaron Muirhead is available after a two-game ban.

The Galabank side, who have slipped to third after three months of leading the Third Division, will also be missing the injured Gary Wild and Graeme Bell, while Jordan McKechnie is unavailable due to illness.

Manager Harry Cairney had a wasted Boxing Day as he explained: "I went to spy on Stranraer against Clyde but I did not learn anything as the wind ruined the game.

"They have good players in key areas as they showed against us in the last game but we are looking to bounce back after losing our place at the top of the table."