PARS boss Allan Johnston is targeting a successful Ayr raid this weekend to continue his team’s ascent up the Championship table.

The derby win at Raith Rovers on Monday has put Athletic at the top of the form guide over the last half-dozen games, having picked up three wins and three draws, and they are now just six points behind Falkirk, who occupy the final promotion play-off slot.

Dunfermline are ahead of Queen of the South and Dumbarton on goal difference but, with Saturday’s opponents two points adrift, a loss at Somerset Park could see them back in the bottom two.

Johnston, however, is looking upwards and is demanding that his players maintain the standards produced at Stark’s Park.

He said: “I thought we were worthy winners but we’ve got to push on now. There’s a lot of games and the next two, Ayr United and St Mirren, are hard games again so we’ve got to make sure that it’s the same attitude and the same quality that we produce.

“It’s a big game on Saturday. You can see how close the league is so it’s another important game.

“We’ve certainly improved since the start of the season and I think we’re learning about this league, the quality, and that you can’t afford to make mistakes.”

New boy Callum Morris is unavailable for the game as he is on holiday. Rhys McCabe and Lewis Martin missed the Raith clash because of a knock sustained in training and a family bereavement respectively, so could return, but otherwise Johnston has no fresh injury concerns.