A bumper crowd is expected at Somerset Park with home fans buoyed by a summer spending spree and Rovers fans in high spirits following a rousing performance against Rangers.

Raith manager John McGlynn rates the opening day opponents as the biggest threat this season, but hopes his players rise to the challenge and start a big year for the club with a big win.

"All our preparations, all the fitness work and match practice, comes down to Saturday," he told SportsPress.

"The league will not be won or lost on Saturday — it's a marathon we're going into — but nonetheless it's a massive game and one that would be great to win.

"Having watched Ayr at the weekend I think it will be a cracking game.
"Both teams want to play football and attack, and although it's the first game of the season I think it will be a great advert for the Second Division."

Rovers performance in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Stark's Park on Saturday has helped raise confidence ahead of the difficult first game.
"The Rangers game was a big help," McGlynn agreed.

"We were apprehensive because we were playing a quality Rangers team on the back of a heavy defeat to Dundee United, but we made life more difficult for Rangers.

"We didn't give them the start we gave Dundee United which gave us confidence the longer the game went – even more so when we actually went in front.

"It was a great test for us and the fact we competed with them, matched them for passing and fitness at points, all pointed to the fact that our preseason has went well.

"We're now hopefully in a good position both physically and mentally and the confidence is back having put in a good performance against a quality team."

The only fresh injury concern surrounds Iain Davidson, who spent the early part of the week on crutches.

He damaged his achilles against Rangers and is a serious doubt. With Gareth Wardlaw suspended, Rovers are expected to partner new loan signing Kevin Smith up front with Graham Weir.

"I watched Kevin towards the end of last season for Dundee United reserves and he caught the eye," McGlynn said.

"We had the option of David Goodwillie again but I thought that Kevin had something different and may complement our team more.

"First impressions are it's a good signing but I don't want to get everyone carried away.

"He looks like an instinctive goalscorer. He was there when the goalkeeper spilled the ball on Saturday and that was something we've missed out on.

"I hope that's the player he's going to be. We need someone to get poacher's goals."

Rovers are also in cup action next week with a rare trip to Cliftonhill to face Albion Rovers in the CIS Cup scheduled for Tuesday night.

"It's a team from a lower division but it's tricky because it's away from home," McGlynn said.

"We cannot treat it lightly at all. The pitch won't be conducive to the football we want to play, so we've got to there with the right attitude."