ATHLETIC must show togetherness and courage when they step onto the field for their do-or-die final game of the season tomorrow evening (Friday).

That’s the message from their manager, John Hughes, who has stressed the need for his team to be at their best when they take on already-relegated Queen of the South at East End.

Saturday’s defeat at Partick Thistle, combined with Ayr United’s draw at Queens, means that finishing above ninth place – and avoiding the Championship play-offs – is outwith Dunfermline’s hands.

READ MORE: SPFL confirm potential Pars play-off dates

A win over the Doonhamers will be enough if the Honest Men fail to win, while a defeat for Lee Bullen’s team at home to Partick Thistle could also mean a draw could be good enough for the Pars, with Ayr only one goal scored better off in terms of goal difference.

Hughes, though, is not concerned with what may happen at Somerset Park, as his thoughts are only on making sure his side secure the victory that will give them the best possible chance of survival.

“It doesn’t even concern me, honestly,” he said when asked if he hoped Thistle had enough to play for.

“Ian McCall’s a good mate of mine but I’m not even going to phone him. Listen, he has to do what’s best for him and his team and his club, and I would do that. If that means resting players for their play-off, then he’s entitled to do that.

“We’re not looking for a favour or anything off anybody else. We’ve had our chances; we had our chance there, Saturday, to go and match the result down at Ayr United. We never did it, so we need to regroup and go again.

“It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really, really difficult – I’m just hoping that, with what’s at stake, and us having to win the game and score a few goals, that we can put that kind of performance on.

“I’m not going to shy away from it, I’m not going to try and dilute it in any shape or form. We’re playing for a big club, we’re playing for Dunfermline, and to do that, you have to have courage.

“That’s what I’m expecting from my players on Friday.”

When it was put to him that the Pars have had a habit of rising to the occasion at home – they’re unbeaten at East End since Boxing Day – Hughes replied: “”They’re a great bunch of boys. I can tell you the whole story from when I came in here.

“When I came in here, they were certainly lacking confidence; when you’re lacking confidence, you’re not winning games, you’ve not got momentum.

“We had to get a belief in them, bring it together again, and I’ve had a fantastic response out of them.

“Now we’re in these pressure games, where we don’t want to be, at the bottom end of the table, and we need to handle it. We need to be at our best and handle the situation a lot, lot better than against Ayr United (in their last home match).

“But, even in that game, we showed a bit of character and a bit of togetherness to go and get the result. It’s going to have to be like that on Friday.”

Hughes, who praised his players for giving themselves an opportunity to beat the drop, added: “It’s been a season that no-one expected.

“It’s been a season that no-one wanted but it is what it is. For us to give ourselves that wee fighting chance, then all credit to them, so we need to stay positive.

“We need to keep trusting each other, keep believing in each other, and keep helping each other along.

“Hopefully, that will be the case on Friday. The fans will come out in their thousands, it will be a right good turnout, and hopefully we can go and get that victory – it won’t be easy – and then results go for us elsewhere.”

Tickets for the game are available online at www.dafc.co.uk.