ALLOA manager Jack Ross says Saturday’s clash with Rangers is an occasion to savour for the whole club as they prepare for life in League One next season. 

The Gers will receive the SPFL Championship trophy following the game in front of a sold out crowd at Ibrox Stadium, and the former St Mirren star hopes his players will relish the atmosphere to give a good account of themselves. 

Ross told Advertiser sport: “It is a brilliant game for the players to be involved in an occasion like this one because although some of them have experienced playing here with Alloa and other clubs, it has not been with a crowd and atmosphere like the one they will step into on Saturday. Its a fantastic game for them especially off the back of a good run and I get the sense that they are all looking forward to it.

"Many of them will see it correctly as a good platform to go and show that they are good players. Obviously, they will look to get reaction from the defeat at Hibs, but at end of the day it has been a demanding week for Rangers. 

“The old firm game is draining physically and psychologically so when the Hibs game went the way that it did, it meant that there was an intensity around for the entire 90 minutes. Even if they are fatigued though, they still have huge advantages over us in terms of being full time with a massive squad of players and resources.

"It is still just a huge challenge for us, but a brilliant one for the whole club to be involved in. Burton O’Brien and Ryan Hoggan are both out, but we are hopeful Scott Gallacher will make the game.”

Ross revealed that despite securing his own future this week by signing a new one year contract extension, he will not be discussing contracts with his players until the end of the current campaign. 

The Wasps boss has been impressed by the attitude of his men since his arrival at the club and hinted that he may already be close to forming his plans for next year’s assault on League One. 

He said: “The players are well used to this situation in terms of their contracts. Most of them have been part time for a number of years and it is just the norm for them now that the contract go from year to year so it won’t affect them and that stuff can be left until the season is over. I don’t think the players have anything to prove to me in that sense. 

“I have been pleased with them, their attitude and application for the majority of the time since I have come in. Of course they need to play well on Saturday and prove they can handle the environment, but I don’t think I will be looking for anything different to what they have shown me in the majority of my games in charge and particularly the last few games.”

The much maligned pitch at the Indodrill Stadium will be replaced this summer after the club made the announcement earlier this week and the manager says the new surface will have a number of benefits for the club next season. 

Ross added: “There has been various opinions on our pitch for some time now from players, fans and managers to pundits so it can only be a positive thing for us.

"In terms of trying to bring players to the club especially because a lot of things about this club are really good and really professional. Now we have a brand new surface down and a very good one at that. 

“It is supposed to be the same surface as Falkirk have so having played there we know it and it should help us with training as well as match days.

"I think it will help the style of play also because we have seen the situation in our home games where the ball skips up at times and makes it more challenging for our own players so there will be a truer run on the pitch now and having it ready for pre-season is a huge benefit to us.”