Watch ParsTV Pre Match Interview
Jim Jefferies is keen to seal second place in the league just as soon as possible. With five matches to go and ten points between them and Stranraer in third place it could mean that one more win would be just enough. He discussed the possibility when he talked to the media on Thursday lunchtime:-

"If you look at the couple of teams below us they are playing teams that are fighting for their lives and raising their games at the moment. There's a lot to play for. In any league you go to where there's things to play for, it's all about grinding out results, and that's what we did on Saturday."

Dunfermline face eighth placed Airdrieonians who currently sit one point above East Fife in the play off spot. East Fife are at home to third placed Stranraer. These are not matches for your fixed odds coupon and JJ knows that his side will not come up against a team who are currently struggling to win points. He continued:-

"We're going to a team fighting for their lives and they've put together a good run. They've only lost to Rangers in the last 11. So, Gary (Bollan) is doing fantastically well there and they've got a bit of confidence."

Last time Dunfermline played Gary Bollan's team at the Excelsior they left with an impressive 3-0 win; a performance that the Pars gaffer rated as "one of our best away performances". It was a flattering scoreline he felt:-

"We did really well. And yet, on paper, we look a bit stronger than that game, because Danny Grainger's back available again.

"But we know it's going to be a tough game and we have to respect what their form's been like. They're at home and they're fighting for their lives. We've had to face that against Brechin and we came through it, and we had to face it against East Fife and we didn't."

JJ feels that it might not matter if Stranraer wins:-

"If we win then you're asking them to win the four remaining matches. If they only draw one and win three it won't be enough, such is the greater goal difference."

The Pars have an eleven goal advantage over Stranraer so the Manager rightly claimed:-

"I think we're one win away and we want to do it as quickly as possible. We've got to go out and make sure we apply ourselves like we did on Saturday. It wasn't the greatest performance but at this stage it's all about the win and if we play well it's a bonus.

"You've more chance of winning if you play well, so we'll always endeavour to do that. But people, because we're keen and we're thinking about this second place, can't forget that we've already qualified for a play-off place with five games still to spare.

"Danny, Forbes and the other more experienced signings didn't come in until January, so the young boys, under the pressure of playing for Dunfermline, have done a fantastic job. Nobody should forget that. The fans have shown that by sticking by them in games, even when they've not been at their best. We said at the start we needed everybody to pull together and that's what's happened.

"It's maybe getting overshadowed by the fact we've not clinched second place yet, and that's the next target, but the first target was to make sure we were at least in the play-offs, because we knew the strength of Rangers. To have done that with five matches spare, everybody should be very pleased with the efforts of the players. Now, we just want to finish it off. If we can clinch it on Saturday, with four games remaining, then that would be a big achievement as well."

Stressing that his players are not just young but also relatively inexperienced:-

"How many times have I sat here and talked about other teams having players who have played at a higher level and it's just not worked out for them. But they find their level and they're good at that level.

"They know we're a young side and they know we're a big club, and they always think they've got a chance against us. It's just when we play well and play at the top of our form, we're a handful for every team.

"The experienced side, the naivety and all that, is something they have to go through to learn from it. I've always said they'll get better and better, and they'll have to. If they get the chance to go up to a better division or make the final of the play-offs they'll be playing against players from a higher level, so you'll have to raise your game again. And if you want to play at that higher level, you've got to improve because you won't get away dropping the level of performance.

"My main point is that I don't think it should go unnoticed that we've already qualified, we are in the play-offs, and nobody can take that away from us. It's just been overshadowed so far by the fact we've not clinched second place.

"If we do that on Saturday, or at any time, it will be fantastic, and we're in a very, very strong place to do that. The other side is we can't switch off. I've explained to the players if you switch off, do you think you're just going to switch back on when the major games come round in the play-offs? You can't do it.

"It's different when you rest players, because you're looking for a response, but experience tells you that you can't let your standards drop, in terms of application, because you'll find it hard to pick it up again. It's the same in training. You should train the way you play because it's easier to take it onto the pitch on a Saturday. If we do get second we can't just take our foot off the gas."

Jefferies did admit however to aiming to use the remaining games to play at the same tempo but give some people a rest and give one or two younger players an opportunity with no pressure on them:-

"I'm probably more so going to do it in the last game of the season because we'll have a game on the Wednesday. There will still be players that have played in the first-team but I would think the recognised first XI will play at Arbroath the Saturday before. But before that I can maybe rest some of the team. If we don't get second on Saturday we'll have to try and get it done against Forfar at home.

"Whatever team we put out will have to keep that application going, because if you drop your standards you won't find it easy to pick it up again when you have to."

The potential play off opponents have already been watched:-

"We've been at a couple of Championship games. We've watched Alloa and Cowdenbeath; we think Raith Rovers are going to get out of it. They've been distracted by their cup run and the Ramsden cup final but they got a great result that gave them a wee bit of a breather.

"Games against Raith Rovers are great occasions and we would like to be up there alongside them. What a league it would be. If Hibs were to get dragged into it, it would be some league next year, although I think Hibs have got enough points to keep out of it.