Queens boss Peter Murphy is determined to maintain home rule at Palmerston when they clash with Kelty Hearts tomorrow.
The Doonhamers are unbeaten following last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Dumbarton and top the League One table.
Murphy said: “It’s a good start to be top of the table.
“But we know it is a very tight league at the moment, so we hope to try and get into a position where we get a run of results that opens up a bit of a gap.
“It is close right down to seventh or eighth and a couple of wins and losses make a big difference.
“It is not even the first quarter (completed) until after Saturday and then we can assess that first quarter and how we’ve done.”
Murphy has brought the players to Dumfries for training on Wednesdays to get used to the surface.
But he dismissed that as a major factor in their winning form.
He said: “I don’t think it is a secret.
“I think when the players get used to their home environment it helps.
“Previously, when I was at Annan Athletic we trained there all the time.
“And being on the pitch the players get to know the surrounding dimensions of the pitch and how the ball rolls and especially on 3G pitches when they do roll differently.
“For instance we played at Stenhousemuir the other week and they have a relatively new pitch.
“It was very flat and hard which is never good.”
Murphy has been boosted with his squad for tomorrow’s encounter with Kelty Hearts as Pharrell Willis returns to the reckoning after suffering a bout of flu while
Daniel Church should also be back following a groin strain.
He said: “Daniel was out on the pitch building up his fitness this week.
“He had a slight tweak in his groin last week and pulled himself out of training at the time which was good rather than make it worse.
“That’s shown his development.
“He was not involved in last weekend’s game but he should be back with us at the end of the week.
“Pharrell was out through illness and there is a bit of a flu going around and he was just missing because of
that.
“He is back training this week and should be available for this weekend.
“But Fraser Brydon broke down again and we are just waiting to hear back from Ayr about him.
“He was supposed to be coming back to us, but broke down when he stepped up his training with Ayr United “
Murphy expects fans to be in for a treat from tomorrow’s tussle.
He said: “Kelty Hearts are a very good footballing side.
“From our point of view, our home form has been good – and it’s up to us to go out and impose ourselves.”