ATHLETIC will give an opportunity for some fringe players between now and the end of the season but they are determined to finish with three victories.

That's the message from assistant manager, Dave Mackay, as the Pars prepare to travel to Airdrieonians this Saturday for their first match since being crowned League One champions.

Dunfermline head for North Lanarkshire unbeaten in 21 league games – a run that has exceeded their previous best of 20, which Bert Paton's team achieved between the 1994/95, and 1995/96 seasons – and are targetting some club records before the season's out.

Those include points accumulated and clean sheets kept - they've managed 20 in the league so far - but face a Diamonds side who are the only side they have not kept one against so far this term.

Two 1-1 draws at KDM Group East End Park came either side of a scarcely believable comeback on their last visit to the Excelsior Stadium, in February, when the Pars roared back from three goals down to win 4-3.

That result was one of the most pivotal in the title race with Airdrie, under the charge of player / manager, Rhys McCabe, himself an ex-Par, the division's highest scorers with 76 goals.

They look likely to contest the play-offs – they sit third, and can go within two points of second-top Falkirk with a win – but Mackay insists Athletic will be going out for victory themselves.

"We will enjoy ourselves for a couple of days, but we want to make sure that we finish with three wins at the end of the season," he said after the title was clinched.

"We have a wee chance of breaking a club record in the amount of points as well. We can break a record with clean sheets and we want to go the rest of the season unbeaten so, yes, we will enjoy it, but we don’t want to rest up yet.

"We have plenty of time to do that in the summer."

When asked if some players who haven't played as many minutes may get an opportunity to feature, he replied: "Yes, that's important.

"You can only pick 11 players on a Saturday, but every single one of them has played a massive part this season. Whether they have played one or two games, whether they have played every game - they have all been a part of it, and that includes training sessions where they have raised the standards.

"They come in every day, nobody complains and, when people find themselves out of the team at times, they might think it a bit unfair. It possibly is, but they never show that. The way they show that is by continuing to work hard and, yes, there is a chance for players to get some minutes towards the end of the season.

"Obviously, there are contracts coming up, so it is important that we do see a couple of other players getting some game time. The benefit that we have got is that, when we do make changes, I don't think it weakens us as a team, so we will certainly be taking the last three games seriously.

"It is an opportunity for a couple of players to get a game."