LIVINGSTON manager Roberto Landi says he won't be resting key players for tomorrow's Homecoming Scottish Cup Third Round tie with East Stirlingshire, because he feels the difference between the two teams in their ability to win the match is too small.

Speaking ahead of the Lions' second trip to face the Third Division side at Ochilview in cup competitions, Roberto admitted that he is treating the match differently to how he would if he was coaching in his home country.

"Normally, in Italy or in any other country in Europe, when you play against a Third Division team and you are a club at the level Livingston are at, you can play with your reserve team because there is a big difference in quality.

"But here, it is impossible to do that. Playing against East Stirling won't be much different to any other match because they will fight hard and cause us problems. So we can't go there and play our youth players like they would do in Europe.

" In Italy, between the top of the table and the bottom there is a big difference. Here, if we play against the teams at the bottom of the league - such as Airdrie, Clyde or Morton - there isn't that difference. You can see that in recent results such as St Johnstone drawing with Clyde or Dunfermline losing to Morton. Every game is very difficult and if you don't have a minimum of 18 to 20 players it is a problem.

"Tomorrow is another tough game and we need to play with the best 11 players we have."

Roberto also admitted that the lack of squad depth has hampered his side's efforts of late, with players who are in need of time to recover from minor injuries instead being thrust into action to maintain the balance of the side.

"A big problem we have is not being able to rest our players and give them the recovery they need. Murray Davidson should take two weeks to recover properly but we might need him back quicker. Then Liam Fox needs a rest but we can't give him that because we need him to play.

" We don't have the possibility to recover the energy for certain players. We started on July 1 with a group of players and we have now played over 20 games with exactly the same small group of players.

"In the last few matches I haven't been able to make a tactical change during the match. If a player has been injured, I have changed him with another player, but I can't change the game if I want the team to defend more or attack more because we don't have the players.

"We have 11 or 12 outfield players who are ready to play at a professional level and also our two goalkeepers. After that, we only have youth players. They are for the future and - although they are very good and try hard - they are not to play to win matches at this stage.

"We are looking to strengthen our squad in January. But until then there are four or five matches to go. And even then, some players may arrive on January 1st or they may arrive on January 28th. There are many matches between these dates and it creates an even more difficult situation. For now, we need to keep together and play for each other."

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