MICHAEL Gardyne is keen to pit his striking talents against ex-team-mate Michael McGovern today - and reckons Ross County's front men will have to beat one of the best in the business.
The two former Celtic lads were close friends at Victoria Park - and in their Barrowfield youth days - before McGovern's summer switch to Falkirk.
For Gardyne, tomorrow's top of the table clash would have held quite enough spice without that personal element to the match.
He told the Ross-shire Journal, "It's another big test for us - they all are. We know Falkirk are a very good side but can be confident, given the way we've been playing.
"We'll have to do well to beat Michael McGovern as he proved what a good goalkeeper he is while here at this club.
"Big Mick is brilliant - one of the nicest guys I've met in football.
"He didn't really play much until he came to Ross County but in his couple of seasons up here, he was superb.
"Some of the saves he made and games he saved for us were quite something. He was also outstanding in the run to the Scottish Cup final.
"I think he would have liked to have stayed at Ross County but got married in the summer and felt he needed to get back down the road.
"He must look at it and think everything has clicked since he left, but they're doing alright at Falkirk.
"They're only three points behind and through to a League Cup semifinal."
Gardyne has helped County establish a run of 10 games unbeaten in the league and six victories in a row.
But the 25-year-old Dundonian knows the Bairns have been clocking up good results themselves.
He said, "I think what Falkirk have in their favour is they have a lot of young boys who are playing without fear.
"There's no pressure on them and they're just going out every week and enjoying themselves. That's a big part of it.
"Obviously, they have a good manager in Steven Pressley as well. Big Mick says he is excellent.
"It's similar with us and Derek Adams - they are both young, strong-minded managers.
"I think Falkirk will do well this season but I definitely think there will be four or five teams in the mix towards the end of the season."
ROY MacGregor yesterday (Thursday) backed manager Derek Adams' rebuke of Partick Thistle for portraying Ross County as the First Division's big-spenders.
Jags' boss Jackie McNamara, the former Celtic and Scotland defender, made the remark in a newspaper report and in his match-day programme notes.
After Saturday's victory away to Partick, a riled Adams slammed the comment as inaccurate and for detracting credit from County's fine start to the season.
MacGregor, the Ross County chairman, spoke out in support of Adams, stressing County were, at best, mid-table spenders.
He told the Ross-shire Journal, "Our manager obviously reacted after the game to Jackie's suggestion we were the biggest spenders in the First Division.
"Derek is right. We have a middle of the road, rather than top end budget.
"What Derek has done with that budget is manage to bring in a really good class of player. That's a credit to him.
"We don't have the top bracket earners that some of the other teams have. Some have Scottish Premier League players they are perhaps paying a lot more for.
"Those teams will also have groups of players who they are paying much less money for.
"But spending on a player doesn't always equate to quality or effectiveness - and I think that was the point Derek was keen to get across.
"Partick are probably not the biggest spenders but have at least three players that are higher paid than those in our squad.
"A number of teams have maybe three or four better paid players than us but perhaps also seven or eight below our average.
"At Ross County, the wage structure is very equitable and our spending is probably just halfway up the league.
"We're not at the top, we're not at the bottom, but the manager has been able to assemble a very good squad.
"Just as importantly, he has them working together very effectively."
Adams was keen to draw a line under the row this week, but stood by his post-match criticism of McNamara.
The County boss said, "I've already said my piece about the comments of Jackie McNamara whereby he suggested we were the top payers in the division.
"It was a wee bit naive of him to say that because he doesn't have the facts.
"As a manager, you shouldn't get yourself involved in these kind of things."
Partick Thistle (0) 0 Ross County (1) 1
