PARS boss James McPake insists that his team can only focus on what they can affect as they prepare for a crucial match at Airdrieonians.

Saturday's draw with Partick Thistle, combined with a win for the Diamonds over Greenock Morton, left Athletic three points behind their opponents this weekend in the chase for a Premiership play-off spot.

Rhys McCabe's team, however, picked up a fine 3-1 success at Raith Rovers on Tuesday night, a match they had in hand, to move six points clear of Dunfermline with four games to go, and consolidate fourth place in the Championship.

Fifth-placed Dunfermline will be looking for a repeat of their December success at the Excelsior Stadium and, speaking to Press Sport ahead of the midweek matches, McPake commented: "We're at that point where we just focus on every game and, to be fair, that's the way we do it.

Dunfermline Press:

"It's the way we did it last year - you can only really affect your next game.

"The games are always tight affairs between the two teams, it's two teams that know each other very well, so it's a game we're looking forward to.

"They're on a decent enough run. They had a very good win at the weekend, we're on the back of four unbeaten, so it's a game we're looking forward to."

McPake, who said he was hopeful Chris Hamilton would be ready to return to the squad this weekend, with results of a scan on Paul Allan's hamstring set to be received yesterday (Wednesday), has been encouraged by the consistency of his side's recent performances.

The Pars fought back from being a goal down at the break to draw an entertaining match with third-top Partick on Saturday, and he continued: "We were playing against a good Partick team as well so we always knew it was going to be a tough game.

"It's a team that's got a massive threat in their side in Brian Graham as we know - I think it's four times he's scored against us this season - so, particularly when you go a goal down, and then show the level of performance in the second half, and the fact you come away disappointed that it's only a point, that's a good sign because it wasn't too long ago where we weren't winning games.

"Now we're at a point where the performance, or the consistency of the performance, is better. We just need to continue with that.

"I said it last season as well and I do believe that there's times when you lose a bit of form. Obviously, the injuries we had had an affect on the squad as well, but throughout the course of a league campaign, a season, and just the time you're at a club, it is the consistency over the longer period that will bring you success.

"Whatever success is perceived as, as we see it, we just want to win as many games as we can, but do it in a way of playing that you can identify with our football club. We're slowly getting there. It is a process, it does take time, but we're a young squad and we're competing well.

"We just want to take it into the next game again."