JIM Duffy says his decision to play Gary Oliver as an out-and-out striker is paying dividends for Morton.

Duffy believes the 22-year-old is thriving as the club’s main frontman.

Oliver has scored six times for Ton this season and the former Hearts kid has a particular talent for scoring against today’s opponents Dunfermline Athletic.

In the last three fixtures with the Pars, Oliver has scored a goal on each occasion.

And the hope is that the trend continues this afternoon at East End Park.

Duffy said: “I think Gary’s been playing well and in the last seven or eight matches he’s managed a few goals.

“So he’s scoring goals and playing in a different role. He’s playing more as a striker — as opposed to a number 10 — and I think he’s enjoying it.

“He’s looking to get involved in the play and he’s always been an outstanding footballer. I don’t think there’s ever been any doubt about that.

“Now he’s adding goals to his game as well, which is the next level for him to go to because his general link-up play is as good as anybody’s in the division.

“I’m delighted that he’s thriving around the penalty box and that’s important.”

Duffy has warned, meanwhile, that today’s opponents are a much better outfit than their recent record suggests.

Allan Johnston’s side ended a seven-game winless streak on Tuesday night, beating Inverness Caley Thistle 1-0. But Duffy insisted that it’s not uncommon to experience a barren spell in the Championship because it’s so competitive.

He said: “In this division it’s not that strange to lose successive games because it’s so competitive.

“People might get fed up with me saying it but that’s a fact; that’s the reality of this division.

“If you hit a bit of misfortune even, or you’re just not playing that well, then two or three games can just pass you by.

“You can be a fraction away from winning and losing.

“Dunfermline weren’t playing badly, they just weren’t getting a break.

“Obviously they beat Inverness on Tuesday and that will give them confidence, no question about that.

“But by all accounts they have been playing quite well, they just didn’t get the results they felt their performances deserved. But it’s up to us to go to Dunfermline with the same approach we’ve always had and try to come back with the points.

“We’ll go to Dunfermline with the same determination as we had on Tuesday [against Livingston] and if we can do that, then we’ll be a difficult side to play against.”

Dunfermline sit four points adrift of fourth-placed Ton in the division with a game in hand and would close the gap to one if they win.

But Duffy’s side could put clear daylight between the clubs and extend their advantage to seven points if they take maximum points.

Duffy said: “If you can manage to get some sort of breathing space in this division, then it’ll be gratefully accepted but I don’t think it [Saturday] will define anything — win, lose or draw.”