JIM Duffy expects an open game today at Cappielow as Morton host Queen of the South — similar to last weekend’s end-to-end Renfrewshire derby.

Queen’s are unbeaten in four Championship outings, with their latest result a 4-2 win over Falkirk at Palmerston Park, so the Doonhamers won’t arrive in Greenock short on confidence. 

Ton boss Duffy knows Gary Naysmith’s side won’t sit behind the ball and invite the Sinclair Street side onto them — because they will be busy plotting their own way forward in what is sure to be an absorbing fixture.

Duffy told the Tele: “Last weekend against St Mirren our game plan was to use pace on the counter-attack against a side who were always going to take the game to us.

“I don’t think it will be too dissimilar a game this weekend.

“Queen’s have guys who have played at the very top level in James McFadden. 

“He’s played in the last couple of games but throughout his career he’s played against some of the best players in the world. 

“Stephen Dobbie is one of the best players in the division.

“So they’re not the type of team who will come in and put 10 men behind the ball. 

“They’ll come and express themselves and that should make a bit more of an open match. 

“We have to make sure that we’re really switched on because if we’re not they have the quality to hurt you.”

Queen’s were slow-starters in the league this season but have since hit a bit of form. 

And Duffy believes that came from a change in shape made by their manager which suits the players better.

And he reckons their results and performances have improved since the last time the two sides met in Dumfries, when Morton came away with all three points in a 2-1 victory.

He added: “There are not many teams in this division who are far off the pace. 

“Most have found a good level of performance and in any given game teams are turning it on.

“You can have any team that you’re thinking ‘they’re not playing too well’ and all of a sudden they get two wins back-to-back and they’re climbing the league quite considerably.

“Queen of the South have changed their shape a bit and that seems to be something the players are more relaxed with and their results have improved. 

“They have a lot of talent and will definitely cause us problems.”