Queen of the South will have to face Hamilton Accies without defender Jim Thomson after he was sent off against Partick Thistle at Firhill last week. He could miss up to three league games, but will be eligible to play in the cup against Dundee. Man of the match from the previous week, Bob Harris was taken off against Thistle as a precautionary measure after feeling a hamstring twinge. His chances of playing today are rated 50-50 chance of playing but the medical staff want to give him every opportunity and will assess the situation later today. Despite not yet being fully fit, defender Jim Lauchlan has been drafted back into the Doonhamers squad.
Hamilton manager Billy Reid believes that critics are waiting for the table-topper's bubble to burst. This is just the kind of incentive Reid can use to encourage his players to prove them wrong by getting another good result today. Accies are heading into the final straight in their title charge with a healthy four-point lead over Dundee and just 10 games remaining. But Reid feels his side haven't been given the credit they deserve, even after coming through a tricky encounter last Saturday with a 3-1 home win against Livingston. Reid said: "Queen of the South away is a big game but we've got a point to prove against them. They beat us down there in the last game and I thought we were really unfortunate that day. It will be difficult as they're on a great run but the pleasing thing for me is that it's going to be a decent surface to go and pass the ball on and we'll do that." Reid will be without Alex Neil through suspension and David Elebert and Tom Parratt are both struggling, while Stuart Taylor (ankle) is out
