ATHLETIC will be backed by another bumper backing against their closest League One rivals when they meet again next month.

On April 8, table-topping Dunfermline will travel across the Kincardine Bridge to tackle Falkirk, for a fourth and final time this season.

James McPake's Pars defeated the Bairns in front of 9,530 supporters at a raucous KDM Group East End Park last Tuesday evening, a result that sent them eight points clear at the top of the table with nine games to play.

Tickets for the away section went on sale on Monday and, little more than 24 hours later, the North Stand at the Falkirk Stadium, which has a capacity of around 2,000, was sold out.

"We've tried really hard to get the fans supporting us and, I don't want to say onside, because I don't think fans are ever against their football club," McPake told Press Sport.

"In terms of everything we're doing, we need the fans, we know that. It's great that they are coming out, not just that game, but there's been times this season we've had over 5,000. We've had the biggest crowd outside the Premiership, most weeks, when we're at home.

"That's something we are proud of."

Dunfermline had been due to travel to Peterhead on Saturday, with Falkirk out of action due to their involvement in the Scottish Cup, but the match at Balmoor was called off due to snow.

That has, this afternoon, been rearranged for April 11, three days after the Falkirk game, and the same evening that the Bairns' match at Montrose, that had been due to take place at the weekend, has been rescheduled for.

If Dunfermline, who won 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium in November, go into the match with a lead of at least 13 points at the top of the table, a victory would see them clinch the title and promotion back to the Championship.

The Pars have won on each of their previous four visits to the Falkirk Stadium, and are unbeaten against them in the league this season.