GUS MACPHERSON hopes the lure of playing at Hampden will inspire his side to one final victory at their temporary Airdrie home this weekend.

The Spiders have not played at the National Stadium for more than a year after the Mount Florida venue was redeveloped for the Commonwealth Games.

Annan are the final visitors to the Excelsior Stadium tomorrow as QP get closer to their return home against Clyde on January 3.

MacPherson has yet to lead his side out at Hampden and few of his players have ever taken to Scottish football's most hallowed turf.

The QP boss said: "It is our last game at Airdrie and I am sure the players will be looking forward to getting in to Hampden. It is getting close for them now.

"The mood in the camp is good, we have a good work ethic about us and we are looking forward to the game.

"The majority of the boys haven't experienced playing at Hampden, I think only three or four of the group have done that.

"It was a major selling point when we were bringing boys in from Junior and Amateur football.

"They have seen it getting closer. We have moved back into Lesser Hampden and now we are close to playing the first competitive game at Hampden.

"I am sure it is something they will all be excited about and looking forward to."

It is not just Hampden that Queen's had to move out of last year, with their training base adjacent to the stadium also out of use as some of the finest athletes in the world arrived in Glasgow during the summer.

And MacPherson admits everyone at the club will be pleased to get back to normal when they move back in in a couple of weeks.

He said: "I can only speak about my experience since coming in but I think it has been a difficult period for the club being out of Hampden.

"It is a credit to the infrastructure we have here that we have been able to cope with it. It has run pretty smoothly but that is thanks to the people outwith the football department.

"That just shows that the operation here is very effective. But I think the people who have been here a lot longer than me will say that they are desperate to get back in to their home."

Before Queen's can think about a Hampden homecoming, they have two important League Two ties to play as they look to keep pace with leaders Arbroath.

A trip to Berwick awaits next weekend but it is the clash with Annan tomorrow that is top of MacPherson's agenda.

He said: "It will be a tough game. The teams we will play in the next few weeks will see the games as an opportunity to close the gap on us so we have to be ready for that challenge.

"We can only look to keep things ticking along and keep picking up results.

"Arbroath have set a very high standard, as have Albion Rovers as well.

"We are just looking to keep getting results and see where that takes us.

"You focus on your own performances and players. The group have set a standard and they know the job and what is expected of them and it is up to them to maintain that."