JOSH EDWARDS has admitted that Athletic’s Championship play-off matches are among the most important that he has faced in his career so far.

The 21-year-old, who scored the opening goal in last Friday’s defeat to Queen of the South, has admitted that preserving their second-tier status will be tough, but is confident they have what it takes to succeed.

This time last year, Edwards and Dunfermline were preparing for the play-offs at the other end of the table, which would see them lose out in the quarter-finals to Raith Rovers.

This time, though, they face a second leg with Queen’s Park, who finished fourth in League One, on Saturday with the tie finely poised after Wednesday's first leg.

The winner will then take on either Airdrieonians, from whom the Pars signed Edwards in 2019, or Montrose, next Thursday and Sunday, to determine who will be playing in the Championship and League One.

“It is a big game in terms of the league status. It is definitely up there,” the full back, speaking ahead of Wednesday's first leg, which ended 0-0, said of the tie’s importance.

“I have also played in a few cup games with Dunfermline against the Old Firm but it is definitely one of the most important games that I have been a part of.

“Last year it was a disappointing end to the season. The first game was 0-0 at East End, where we played really well and were unlucky not to go to Stark’s Park with a lead. In the second leg, they scored and we were just trying to get ourselves back into the game when they scored a late goal.

“It was a tough one to take to end the season but these play-offs are going to be more important for the club than they were last year.

“They (Queen’s Park) have nothing to lose. They will be thinking that they can have a go at us.

“It is almost a free hit for them to see if they can get themselves promoted. They will believe that they can, I’m sure of it, but we need to focus on ourselves and get back to good performances that will, hopefully, keep us in the division.”

When asked if the criticism following last Friday’s defeat would provide extra motivation, Edwards added: “We know that we are better than what we produced in the second half. We know that we can go out and win all the games that we have got left to keep us in the division. So we just need to focus on ourselves, make sure that we are ready and I’m sure that we can do the job and keep us up.”