THE dates for Athletic's potential Championship play-off ties have been confirmed by the SPFL.

Dunfermline fans face a nerve-jangling night on Friday when their favourites take on Queen of the South in their final match of the season at East End, seeking to avoid being involved in the end-of-season games.

Defeat at Partick Thistle, combined with Ayr United's draw at Queens, leaves the Pars in ninth place, and the play-off place, and one point behind the Honest Men, who host Thistle at Somerset Park in their final game.

Victory for John Hughes' team over the Doonhamers, who were consigned to relegation at the weekend, will keep them up if Ayr do not take three points against the Jags, whilst a defeat for Dunfermline will ensure they finish ninth regardless of what their rivals do.

Goal difference, in which Ayr are better off by one goal, or the teams' head-to-head record, in which Athletic have the advantage over, could also come into play if Dunfermline draw and the Honest Men lose, which would tie them both on 36 points.

If the Pars finish in ninth, they will play Queen's Park, who will finish fourth in League One, next Wednesday evening (May 4) in the semi-final first leg, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

The SPFL have confirmed that Partick Thistle or Raith Rovers – who can both still claim fourth in the Championship, although Thistle have a three point lead and are eight goals better off – will host Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the first leg of the Premiership play-off quarter-final on Tuesday May 3.

The Spiders have been sharing Thistle's Firhill ground this season as they prepare to move to Lesser Hampden, and league bosses have now set Wednesday as the first leg of their play-off.

The return will be held on Saturday May 7 at 3pm, with the two-legged final taking place the following week.

The winners of the Pars or Ayr and Queen's Park will take on Airdrieonians or Montrose and, should the Pars be involved, they would be away to the Diamonds or Gable Endies on Thursday May 12 in a tie to be broadcast live on BBC Alba at 7.30pm.

East End would then host the second leg of the final, again live on BBC Alba, on Sunday May 15 at 1.10pm.