DUNFERMLINE travel to play Dundee United in the SPFL Championship this afternoon and manager James McPake expects a tough game.

Tannadice is the venue for what will be Athletic's first game in three weeks, as they seek a first win over the table-toppers this season, and to end a run of five outings without victory.

"It's tough. It feels like our last game was a long time ago - the Friday night at Hampden. You're going on three weeks now, that's not normal within a season," McPake said this week.

"You only really get that over a summer break. It's not been ideal but we've worked away and the players will be prepared for Saturday, as they were for the last two games.

Dunfermline Press:

"Saturday, looking at the weather, nothing crazy is to happen. So the game will go ahead and we'll be ready for it."

After matches against Airdrieonians and Queen's Park were postponed in each of the last two weeks, here's a look ahead to this afternoon's encounter.

READ MORE: Pars target points for play-off push ahead of 'toughest test' at United

Form guide

As noted, the Pars have not won any of their last five games, three of which - including the last two, at home to Raith Rovers, and at Queen's Park - have ended in defeat.

Their last win, on December 9, came on the road at Airdrie, one of three Dunfermline have had away from home this season in the league.

They sit sixth in the Championship table, four points behind Airdrie - who sit fourth and in the final promotion play-off spot - with a game in hand. However, they are only three points above second bottom Queen's Park.

Dundee United have won three and drawn one of their last five, but the solitary defeat in that spell came in their last home fixture, when Greenock Morton registered a 3-2 success on January 6.

In 20 league matches, Jim Goodwin's team have only lost twice, with the other reverse coming at home to their nearest title challengers, Raith.

Both clubs are on 44 points, with United top on goal difference, and having a game in hand.

Past meetings

It's the third league meeting of the teams this term and it's United who hold the upper hand.

Craig Wighton's header looked set to give Dunfermline a superb victory at Tannadice in August, but a leveller deep into stoppage time from Mathew Cudjoe rescued a point for the Tangerines.

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In November, a brilliant Owen Moffat goal cancelled out Kai Fotheringham's opener for the Taysiders, who grabbed all three points late on courtesy of ex-Pars loanee, Chris Mochrie.

There was also an SPFL Trust Trophy meeting in September, where a Pars team shorn of nine first team regulars went down to a 3-0 defeat.

Dunfermline's last win over United came in February 2020, courtesy of a 2-0 Championship success at East End, but have not won at Tannadice on any of their last four visits.

Their last success there was a 3-2 win on the opening day of the 2018/19 season.

In the overall head-to-head, United have won 72 times, Dunfermline 55, with 42 draws. In the league, United have won 57 meetings, the Pars 50, with 39 ending all-square.

Team news

Dunfermline are poised to welcome back defender, Sam Fisher, to their squad, whilst Craig Wighton has also provided them with a fitness boost.

McPake said this week: "Certainly, from the Queen Park (on January 5) game it's stronger. From last week, it's pretty similar. It certainly is stronger than it was at Hampden, that Friday night."

From the dugout

James McPake: "It's far too long ago now to take confidence from it (the previous league meeting at Tannadice). This'll be the fourth time (the teams have played this season). The SPFL Trust Trophy, you can't compare that game to any of the league games - they had a strong enough team out, but they had made a few changes as well to give a few people minutes.

"We did the same. The two league games have been very tight, two really good games if you were to sit back and watch them.

"They're a decent team, they're a team that have come out and said that they want to win the title and with the size of that club, when they drop a division that's always going to come out of there.

"They'll be desperate to get three points for what they're trying to do at the top end of the table. We're desperate for the points just to get back to getting points or winning way as the weekend.

"And it's been that ling since we played, so we're eager to go out and perform. It'll be a tough game, we know that."

Press Sport will be live at Tannadice to bring you updates from the game, which kicks off at 3pm.