HE might be at the veteran stage of his career but Joe Cardle insists he's not ready to call time on it soon.

The 36-year-old Kelty Hearts star has set his sights on extending his playing days beyond the end of this season – and to show supporters of his old club what he's still capable of this weekend.

Cardle was restored to John Potter's starting line-up, for only his second start in nine games, for last Friday's scoreless draw at Falkirk, joking afterwards that "they don't seem to like me here for some reason".

The point secured last season's League Two title winners of their place in the third tier for next term ahead of this weekend's trip to KDM Group East End Park, for the fourth, and final, Fife derby of the campaign with Dunfermline.

The affiliation that the winger has with the Pars is well documented; he has both First Division (now Championship) and League One title winners medals to his name following two separate stints at the club, where he remains revered by their fans.

As well as a League Two badge with Kelty, and the PFA Scotland division player of the year accolade, Cardle also has a League One success with Partick Thistle, and Challenge Cup (SPFL Trust Trophy) triumphs with Airdrie and Raith Rovers to his name during a successful playing career.

He's also started his own football academy in Dunfermline, where he still lives, but, when asked if he planned to keep the boots on beyond this season, he said: "I love playing.

"I'm 36, still loving it, still enjoying it. I still feel fresh and still feel good.

"To be playing at my age...I've been in the game for 20 years now so, if I've got the opportunity to play next season, then I'd like to think so."

Cardle and his Kelty pals helped boost Athletic's title aspirations with their Bairns point, as victory for James McPake's leaders, less than 24 hours later, at Montrose sent them 11 points clear with seven games left of their season.

He's desperate to start at his old stomping ground, having come off the bench for his team's 2-1 loss there in October, and continued: "I only came on last time we played there so, hopefully, I can start and show them what I can do still!

"I think the game a couple of weeks ago (their home win over Falkirk) was massive for Dunfermline. I was there that night and, every credit to them, they performed, especially in the second half, but I'm a Kelty player.

"We know ourselves we've not done ourselves justice this season, with the players that we've got. Hopefully we can pick up a few wins towards the end of the season and finish on a high.

"I think if you look back at all four games against Falkirk, we probably should've done better in the last game as well, where they scored late on (to win 2-1 in February). We were obviously winning that game as well.

"If you think back at the Dunfermline games, the majority of them, we've had more possession, more chances, but that's been the story of our season, not putting those chances away.

"As I say, we've got to stay positive, stay as a group, and I think the performance was a promising one."