Brockville Bairns bag a break; FALKIRK v AIRDRIE.

FALKIRK are to reward their players for taking the title fight to Hibs by sending them on a free holiday.

Alex Totten's championship chasers have landed the break on the back of a promise made to them by the Brockville board last summer.

Totten said: "There was a board meeting in August and the directors decided that if we ended 1998 in one of the top two places in the league they'd pay for the lads to go on a winter break.

"The players have done their part and now we are just waiting to get something booked up."

Totten's side face third placed Airdrie today knowing defeat could leave them nine points behind promotion favourites Hibs.

He added: "If we want to catch Hibs then we can't afford to lose games like this."

Full-back Jamie McQuilken has been ruled out of the Falkirk side but defender Kevin James is expected to have recovered from a knee injury in time.

Martyn Corrigan has also been added to the squad after shaking off a bout of flu.

Airdrie - who will be without Davie Farrell - are looking to win at Brockville for the second time this season.

Assistant manager Gary Mackay said: "We've already gone there and won 1- 0 and we'll need the same kind of performance again.

"If you look at the league card it's probably as good a game as you are likely to see anywhere in Scotland this weekend, as both teams are up there pushing for the title.

"There will certainly be no problem making sure our players are up for it - after getting well bevvied at the New Year they always look forward to a game!"