PETER Grant has backed his players to use the hurt from their defeat to Morton as the perfect motivation when Arbroath come calling on Saturday.

The Wasps host Dick Campbell's Red Lichties at the Recs as they look to leapfrog their fellow part-timers off the foot of the Championship table.

The sides played out an entertaining Betfred Cup tie just last month, when Alloa came out on top in the Angus sunshine, and Grant is fully aware of the threat the visitors will pose.

He knows his side will have to produce a much better 90 minutes than they did in Greenock a fortnight ago but the former Scotland assistant has been impressed with the reaction of his players since that humbling day.

Grant told Advertiser Sport: "The boys have worked so hard and I know it sounds crazy but people forget they work their socks off everyday at their own jobs.

"Their attitude and their training ethic is phenomenal and that's great credit to them and the men who have gone before me.

"The break has probably come at a good time and although people will say you want a game straight after a defeat, the way they've trained during the week made me really happy."

He continued: "We'll have to be at our best and better than we were against Morton.

"But there was some of the Morton stuff when I looked back that I was pleased with.

"There was of course stuff I wasn't pleased with and we were a bit flat at times.

"The pleasing for me is that it's the players who are disappointed and want to put it right at the weekend. If we perform then God willing we will get the result we deserve.

"We are more than capable of beating anyone in this league, even although people will look at that and say 'are you sure?'."

Alloa could be dealt a blow, however, as Grant revealed they may be without Kevin Cawley, who suffered a concussion during the defeat to David Hopkins' Ton.

And while Grant admits Cawley would be a "big loss", he is he is convinced whoever he chooses in his place will be more than capable of performing against a difficult Arbroath.

The 53-year-old said: "We know how difficult it is going to be and they deserve great credit for the run they went on last season, no matter what division they were in.

"They've got very experienced coaching staff in Ian and Dick who know their players like the back of their hand.

"I've watched them a few times, including against Inverness, and I know how they play and how difficult it is to play against them."

Meanwhile, the Alloa Athletic Supporters Club will host a Q&A with the new boss on Friday night at the Station Bar, in Primrose Street, from 7pm.