ATHLETIC’S reaction to their last visit to Stark’s Park has shown their mental toughness according to Ewan Henderson – but he insists that game will have no bearing on this afternoon’s second-leg showdown.

The on-loan Celtic midfielder, 21, was one of Dunfermline’s star performers in Tuesday night’s scoreless draw with Raith Rovers in the Premiership play-off first leg and has become a key component of Stevie Crawford’s team in recent weeks.

After making his debut from the bench three days earlier at Dundee, Henderson made his first start in a black and white shirt during the Pars’ last visit to Kirkcaldy on March 30.

A bad evening ended in a 5-1 reverse, which left Dunfermline outside the play-off places, but they rallied and went five games unbeaten to clinch their top four spot with a game to spare.

They will make their Rovers return this Saturday to decide who will advance to the play-off semi-finals against Dundee, with the tie poised finely after their draw at East End.

While he believes their recovery from that painful last trip along the A92 has shown the mentality of the squad, Henderson insists that it will not be on the minds of the players this time around.

“That happened ages ago so nobody’s really fussed about that,” he said post-match.

“It just shows how mentally tough we are, how tight a group we are, that as you said we got beat 5-1, and to come back and produce a performance like that.

“Obviously, we thought we did very well in the game, but we just need to keep our heads down, keep working hard and hopefully get the result on Saturday that we need.

“I thought we created a lot of chances. Sometimes you don’t take them but on Saturday we’re going to have to take those chances.

“They’re a top team, play lovely football, so it was always going to be a tough game against Raith Rovers, so we just need to see what happens on Saturday.

“I thought every player was creating chances. We felt good going into the game, we’ve had a good run of games as well, so all we can do is take that form into Saturday and hopefully get the victory.”

Henderson, who has one goal to his name for the Pars so far, spied an opportunity from just inside his own half in the second period but joked: “I scuffed that!

“I thought I was going to score; I saw Wayne Rooney – remember his goal?

“I don’t want to talk about that to be honest!”

On a serious note, however, Henderson says he’s enjoying the chance of first-team football with Dunfermline and insists they’ll need no extra motivation for Saturday.

He added: “Everyone in that changing room loves playing football so we’re doing something we love.

“If you can’t motivate yourself doing something you love, and being in such a great position, playing football every day like you wanted to do as a kid, what else can motivate you?”