Points are precious for Paddy as top two face off in Capital clash
With the Scottish Premiership in idle this weekend, and Scotland's World Cup warm-up fixture against Japan at Hampden not kicking off until 5pm, a lot of eyes will be on the Vanloq Community Stadium.
There's a top-of-the-table clash in League Two as Spartans host East Kilbride in what could be pivotal in determining the destination of this season's champions.
Visitors Kilby are currently one point better off than Dougie Samuel's men with just six matches left to play. This will be the fourth and final time the sides meet in Scottish football's fourth tier this season, Spartans having won all previous three encounters, their most recent an emphatic 6-0 victory at K-Park in January. The Capital outfit also got the better of the league leaders 2-1 in the Scottish Cup five months ago.
There's precious points up for grabs tomorrow and Spartans goalkeeper Paddy Martin accepts there is a lot riding on these next 90 minutes.
"There's no denying it's a big game," the 26-year-old shot-stopper agreed. "The gaffer is saying the same, and that it has the potential to be a really big statement, but if we do get the win it is still only a two-point lead we'd have. So, as much as it would be a huge psychological boost, there's still 15 points up for grabs after this weekend.
"They're in really good form and are very capable going forward. Guys like Robbo (John Robertson), Connor (Young), and Bobby McLuckie, are very good players, so we respect them. As a team they are very aggressive on the ball, not just keeping the ball for the sake of it, but keeping it to try and score. Look at their results, they are not shy in putting five or six up against teams. Even when we had that gap over them, they were never just going to lie down and accept it.
"Everyone will need to be at their best if we are to get a result. I can see it being quite frantic because there's so much potentially riding on it. It's always interesting when there's an international break and the top league has a week off as I think a lot of people pay a lot more attention to the lower leagues. It could be the biggest league game in Scotland this weekend, we certainly know it is.
"This could go right to the wire. It's been tight all season, so regardless of what happens on Saturday, it could even go down to the last game of the season."
Head coach Samuel last month celebrated 5000 days at the helm having joined from Edinburgh University in June 2012 when the club were plying their trade in the East of Scotland Football League. Fourteen years later and they are now on the brink of an historic promotion to League One.
"Dougie has built a culture where we all understand what the team and the club is about, it's never about individuals," Martin explained. "He's built a good, strong squad and we have had injuries in key positions this season. For Dougie to also reach a special milestone this season, and 14 years in charge, it's incredible. To seal promotion to League One would be the icing on the cake. But if you look at where Spartans were when he first joined to now, the club has totally transformed."