ATHLETIC make the trip to Airdrieonians this afternoon for a crucial match in the race to secure a promotion play-off place in the Championship.
James McPake's team, fifth in the table, are six points behind the Diamonds, who sit fourth and in the final Premiership play-off slot.
With four matches of the regular season left, a win would leave Dunfermline three points behind their opponents, but defeat would all-but-end their hopes of finishing in the top four.
Ahead of the game, here's our look ahead to the encounter at the Excelsior Stadium.
Form guide
Both teams go into this match on the back of a fine run of results.
The Pars are unbeaten in their last four outings, with last Saturday's draw against Partick Thistle coming after wins over Dundee United, Greenock Morton and Arbroath.
McPake's men have also lost just two of their last 10 matches - but one of those was to Airdrie in the last meeting of the teams.
Since losing at Ayr United at the end of last month, the hosts have won three on the spin, against Arbroath, Greenock Morton and Raith Rovers, in midweek.
That match against Ayr is the only defeat Rhys McCabe's team have suffered in their last 10 games, a run which also saw them lift the SPFL Trust Trophy with a 2-1 win over The New Saints in the final.
Airdrie have won eight and drawn four of their 16 home league matches, whilst the Pars have won six and drawn six of theirs on the road.
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Recent meetings
This is the eighth time the teams have met in the past two seasons, having faced each other in League One last term before both were promoted.
And it is the Pars who hold the upper hand.
Of the four meetings last season, three were drawn, with Dunfermline winning the other - an incredible 4-3 success at the Excelsior, when they fought back from three goals down with half-an-hour to go.
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On the opening weekend of this season, Athletic fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at KDM Group East End Park, a result that they repeated when they went to North Lanarkshire in December.
However, last month, in a rearranged match, the Diamonds triumphed 2-0 at East End in the last encounter between the sides.
Team news
Dunfermline will assess Chris Hamilton ahead of the game.
The midfielder was taken off at Arbroath a fortnight ago with a head knock, and missed last weekend's draw with Thistle.
Paul Allan is set to miss out with a hamstring problem, as will Ben Summers, who sustained a knock to his back. They join longer term absentees Craig Wighton and Aaron Comrie on the sidelines.
From the dugout
James McPake: "There’s familiarity there. Both squads are pretty similar from last season, with a bit of change and added quality and some development in younger players.
"They’re difficult games against them and they’re normally eventful games, and I think that’s why I’m looking forward to it."
Press Sport will bring you live updates from the match, which kicks off at 3pm.
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