Pars will be well rested for crucial Caley clash

CHAMPIONSHIP: Overnight stay in the Highlands could boost Fifers’ chances

Allan Johnston is hopeful an overnight stay in the Highlands can help Dunfermline to the win over Inverness Caley Thistle they need to clinch a play-off spot.

The Pars know a victory would be enough to ensure they could no longer be caught by their hosts or Morton, who are both five points behind in the Championship.

The Fifers travel north today looking to extend an eight-game unbeaten run and aiming for a fifth consecutive win to secure at least fourth in the table.

And, with Inverness having endured a hastily rearranged trip to Dumbarton for Wednesday night’s 1-0 win, Johnston is keeping his fingers crossed that more relaxing preparations could give the East End Park men the edge.

He said: “We’re going up the night before, which will hopefully benefit us.

“We’ve got some boys who stay in Glasgow and even further away, so getting up to Inverness is a fair shift if you leave to go up on the morning of the game.

“We’re trying to prepare right and with them having a game on Wednesday night down in Dumbarton hopefully that gives us a slight advantage.

“We’re going to have to start the game well because they’ve got to win the game as well and they’re going to have to come and attack, which should hopefully also suit us.”

Dunfermline have dropped back to fourth and been overtaken by Dundee United in the table following the Tangerines’ recent revival.

However, with second place still not out of reach for the Pars, Johnston is not ruling out any of the permutations that remain in the race for the three places up for grabs behind champions St Mirren. He added: “I think it’s still all to play for. “There are a lot of good teams playing each other in a lot of meaningful games, so I think there are going to be a lot of twists and turns.

“And we don’t want to be in the situation where we are looking at other results. We just want to make sure we get the results we need to get and try to finish the league as high as possible.

“Saturday is two teams right on form just now. I went to see Inverness on Wednesday night against Dumbarton and we’re going to have to put in a top performance, especially since it’s up there, because it’s a hard place to go.

“But we’ve got the advantage of knowing that if we win we’re in the play-offs and that’s a great incentive to have.”

Dunfermline welcome back skipper Callum Morris for the key encounter.

The former Dundee United and Aberdeen defender was forced to pull out of last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Brechin City with an Achilles injury sustained in the warm-up.

But Johnston said: “Callum Morris is back training. We’ve got a couple of other wee niggles but hopefully everybody will be fine for the game.”

Picture: SNS. Callum Morris could return tomorrow.