PREVIEW - Dunfermline v Rivar Plate

GENOA - Talking counts for nothing, now. In six days' time, Dunfermline will be taking on their Division C opponents, Rivar Plate, in the first competitive piece of action since crashing out of the Primavera Tournament on penalties, at the hands of Crazy Bees.
The new, but not so new, signings, already had a chance to impress donning Dunfermline's shirt during that competition, and their services have been preciously retained for the forthcoming season.

GOALKEEPERS: Semino and Perugini will constantly fight it out for the starting berth in goal, and Perugini seems to hold a slight edge for the encounter on Sunday, provided he can be cleared to play by his FIGC club.
Semino should be with the team regardless, perhaps aiding gaffer Vanin manage the team during the cup game.

DEFENDERS: Crosetti did get his clearance to play for Dunfermline from his FIGC club and should be available for the cup game. Frassinelli will be in Florence during the weekend, but he should come back in time for the tie, and either way Filippi and Merello are fully available and looked extremely sharp a partnership in the recent pre-season outings.

MIDFIELDERS: Another player yet to obtain FIGC clearance is Davide Ducco, whose appearances for the Pars may this season be restricted by the fact his FIGC club will often play on Sundays, and anyhow he's not expected to start this weekend as he hasn't played in a single friendly tie so far. His involvement will be far likelier starting from the first league game on 18th September.
On the other hand, Marletta, Finotti and Bovalino have all looked lively recently, with Cantelli, mainly a striker, is also deployable on the flanks in the midfield pack.

FORWARDS: Stefano Rossi is odds-on favourite to start the game upfront, while Cantelli, as mentioned, could be deployed on the left flank.
Buccianti, on the other hand, will only get back from his lengthy spell in Tuscany on Saturday 10th, and will not be involved for the game, although he's likely to travel to San Desiderio with the team.

MANAGER: Vanin is back at the helm, where he belongs, and will most definitely look for promotion after sitting out on the pretty much whole season last term.
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THE SQUAD:

Semino (1) - involved
Perugini (13) - involved

Crosetti (2) - involved
Merello (4) - involved
Filippi (8) - involved
Frassinelli (10) - involved pending return from Tuscany

Marletta (5) - involved
Bovalino (11) - involved
Ducco (14) - involved pending FIGC clearance
Finotti (15) - involved

Cantelli (6) - involved
Rossi (7) - involved
Buccianti (9) - not involved
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THE MATCH: Dunfermline and Rivar Plate have never locked horns before, although some of the players from both sides do know each other rather well.
Namely, Luca Devescovi, Rivar's top scorer last term, is in a folk-rock band also including Marletta and Finotti, and a long term friend of Cantelli's, Frassinelli's and a few more of the lads.
Rivar Plate failed to qualify for the Division C playoffs last term, but they will surely pose a genuine threat for the Pars who, incidentally, have never managed to win the first game of the season in the past:

2006/07: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 1-3 (League)
2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (Liguria Cup)
2008/09: Dunfermline (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (Liguria Cup, Dunfermline through on penalties)

Moreover, Dunfermline have failed to win a single match in the Liguria Cup throughout their relatively short history, managing only two draws and a loss in their previous participations

2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (1st Round)
2008/09: Dunfermilne (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (1st Round - Dunfermline through on penalties)
2008/09: Dunfermline - CD Indie (*) 6-6 (2nd Round - CDI through on penalties)
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