It is a well-worn mantra “one game at a time” but Raith’s Kevin Cuthbert knows only too well the importance of sticking by it at this stage of the campaign.
The 33-year-old keeper was formerly at Hamilton in the 2013-14 season when Accies were involved in a tense three-way Championship promotion fight with Dundee and Falkirk.
Cuthbert admitted it became all to easy to get caught up in the various permutations and what might happen in games elsewhere rather than retaining the focus on exactly what was in their own hands.
And that is a trap he is determined Raith will not fall into as they look to cement their place in fourth the final promotion play-off spot starting against Hibs this evening in a game that will be televised live on BBC Alba with a 5.15pm kick-off.
Cuthbert said: “We are where we want to be at this minute but we can only focus on one game at a time.
“I have been in this position before when I was at Hamilton going for the top of the league with Dundee and Falkirk around us.
“It was at the same stage of the season where you look at the fixtures and see who the other teams still have to play and where you have to go.
“But if you do that, you lose your focus on what you are doing yourself.
“We have Hibs on Saturday at home and we shouldn’t have any interest in what anybody else is doing.
“We can’t lose our focus on ourselves and it really is one game at a time, not looking at the league or the next three matches and whether we can get six points or whatever.
“I think when I was at Hamilton and going for the league, it was sometimes a case of, ‘What are Falkirk doing? What are Dundee doing? Who do they have tomorrow? Are they playing each other?.
“The most important thing is that we go out and do our jobs against Hibs.”
Hamilton ultimately missed out on automatic promotion that season to Dundee but they did go up through the play-offs, a system that Cuthbert admits can be incredibly exciting.
He said: “Anything can happen, there is no doubt about that. It is exciting and I think the one thing that is good is every team in the league still has something to play for.
“The play-offs? Carnage.
“It is difficult once you are there but we have to get there first.
“We can’t say we are going to get there or that we are focused on Hibs or Falkirk.
“It is just a case of worrying about that if we get there.”
While there is still loads to play for this season, Raith boss Ray McKinnon has already been busy preparing for the next campaign signing a whole host of players to extended deals.
He has spoken briefly to Cuthbert about doing the same and the keeper admits a settled squad can only be good for the club.
He said: “I have spoken to the manager a couple of times briefly.
“When it comes to getting something sorted out, we will get it sorted out.
“At the minute, it is not something that is happening just now.
“He has mentioned to me about pushing on for next season.
“I think he is organising the squad. When you look at the last couple of years, there has been eight or nine players coming in each summer.
“I don’t think that is good as you need a settled squad.
“We have had a decent season so far and I think if we can have a settled squad for next season, that’s when you will start to see the manager’s ideas coming into play fully.”