Manager Peter Murphy knows Annan Athletic will be in for a tough test against second-placed Peterhead - but has boosted his squad by making two new signings this week.

Murphy’s men will play host to Jim McInally’s Blue Toon side this afternoon (3pm kick-off), having returned to winning ways after three straight defeats with a 2-1 victory at Stirling Albion last Saturday.

And Murphy also added to his Annan squad on Thursday, bringing in Lewis Strapp and Ruaridh Langan from Scottish Championship outfit Greenock Morton on loan until January 1. Both go straight into the match-day squad.

“Lewis played for Elgin last year, so we have seen him,” player-boss Murphy said.

“He offers a more attacking option at left-back.

“Ruaridh Langan is a box-to-box midfielder. He is not so much of a playmaker but we have some of those already and he will do the dirty work.

“We are trying to bring players in that will boost the squad.

“Even since the start of the season, I have been looking to sign another left-back and a centre-midfielder to boost competition for places and I’ve got that.

“Hopefully, it’s a good bit of business.”

After last weekend’s win, Annan are fourth in Scottish League Two on 13 points from seven league matches, three points adrift of Peterhead who have keeper Greg Fleming, who lives in Annan, among their ranks.

“Peterhead are a team and a club that should be higher up with the players and the finances that they have got, really,” Murphy admitted.

“You just need to be ready for the quality that they have got and try to impose our own quality on the game.

“Peterhead have all these good players but we need to test whether they can mix it.”