Zak Rudden freezes when gifted with a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead.

The Dundee loanee finds himself in behind the Arbroath backline after racing onto a hoofed clearance up the park, but struggles to sort his feet out once in on goal.

Solid defending from Scott Stewart gets the ball clear of danger.

Lewis Vaughan works so hard to keep a loose ball in play, before cutting it back across Arbroath's goal.

A deflection knocks the ball into the path of Josh Mullin, whose low strike is well pushed wide by an alert Derek Gaston.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland international on BBC Scotland

It's never a penalty.

You can't be giving penalties for that.

There was a weak penalty shout just a few moments ago.

Thoughts, Billy Dodds?

Kyle Robinson curls a lovely effort just off target from 20 yards out.

Smart movement from the forward to open up his body and get the shot off.

Two balls on the pitch as Raith Rovers move towards Derek Gaston's goal.

Sabotage by the Arbroath faithful, perhaps? Class.

The visitors are piling on the pressure at the moment.

Lewis Vaughan had an effort deflected wide, before four corners in quick succession come to nothing.

Ricky Little, as is often the case, the man called upon to clear the danger for the hosts.

Ouch!published at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March

19:54 GMT 1 March

Arbroath 0-0 Raith Rovers

Ryan Dow scythes down Lewis Vaughan with a late challenge on the break.

The Arbroath attacker is perhaps lucky to evade a booking there. Early doors and all that.

Kyle Robinson with a disappointingly tame effort from on the edge of the area after nicely crafting some space for himself.

It's an easy collection for Kevin Dabrowski in the Rovers goal.

Derek Gaston, what a lucky boy.

The Arbroath number one takes an age to clear a routine punt up field and is nearly caught out by the onrushing Lewis Vaughan.

First half chance falls the way of Raith Rovers.

Lewis Vaughan flicks wide a header from a deep free-kick.

And we are underway at Gayfield!

A huge game impacting both ends of the Championship table.

James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Scotland

Jim McIntyre has not been able to call on his main defenders for a while now, so it's tough.

Raith will know it's tough to come here. They know there's a wounded animal in Arbroath, they'll expect that. They must be ready for a battle.

Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray tells BBC Scotland: “The reasons for all of the [changes] is freshness to the team. It's a really hard-working side, that's what we need.

"It's going to be a tough game against a team who's came off the back of a really poor result. A wounded animal is the most dangerous one. Jim's normally got his team set up really well, especially at home.

"There's a long way to go with so many twists and turns. It can change quick."

Image source, SNS

There may be a huge gap between tonight’s sides – a 31-point gap, to be exact – but their last meeting ended in a spectacular 2-2 draw at Stark’s Park.

Dylan Easton and Jack Hamilton goals had Raith Rovers cruising at the hour-mark but an outrageous piledriver from Arbroath sub goalkeeper-turned-striker Ali Adams pulled the visitors right back in it, before Leighton McIntosh later levelled from the spot.

Let’s treat ourselves to another watch of that Adams corker, eh? Watch that beauty here.

Image source, SNS

Arbroath manager Jim McIntyre tells BBC Scotland: “We've changed our goalkeeper tonight, and our left-back and right-back.

"Since I've come in the door, we've had umpteen problems at the back. There's been no continuity at all at the back.

"We've lost Colin Hamilton now until the end of the season. We got Tam O'Brien back and in his first game back he's broke his finger. These are the types of things we have had to deal with.

"I'm looking for a reaction from my players. We are running out of games, we know we need a win on the board soon, to give us that wee bit of belief. We need to get closer to Inverness, it's a chance for us to do that tonight."

Image source, SNS

Raith Rovers will be looking to put the pressure on first-place Dundee United, who travel to Firhill tomorrow, in the continuing battle for top spot with a win this evening at Gayfield.

Both sides are currently sitting on 51 points, with Ian Murray’s men only trailing Jim Goodwin’s side on goal difference.

Tuesday’s goalless draw at Stark’s Park versus Greenock Morton keeps a short three-game unbeaten streak intact, but was undeniably a missed opportunity for the Fife outfit to slip into first-place.

Will they take that chance tonight?

Arbroath are still desperately seeking their first win of the ‘new’ year as we head into the third month of 2024.

Jim McIntyre’s men are in dire need of a big result to close the gap to ninth-place Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Tonight’s hosts sit seven points adrift from safety at the foot of the table after shipping six to Queen’s Park on Tuesday.

The Red Lichties are winless in their last 10 – last tasting victory on 16 December in a 2-1 triumph over Inverness – and have failed to pick up three points at home since thumping Airdrieonians on 16 September at Gayfield.

You had your two-minute warning, folks. Get Sportscene on.

Jonathan Sutherland is joined by Bobby Linn, Billy Dodds and James McFadden for some Friday night Championship football on the BBC Scotland channel.

If you’ve lost the remote or not got a telly in front of you, you can click play at the top of this page to watch along.

Image source, SNS

A quick read, anyone?

We have a run down on where things stand for both sides, as well as input from former Dundee United boss Ian McCall and Queen’s Park forward Cillian Sheridan, in our pre-match preview.

Have a gander here.