There will be no game played in Scotland today more important than the one at East End Park, as Dunfermline and Raith Rovers clash in what is likely to be the defining 90 minutes of the first division campaign.
“The fact that we did not lose against our biggest rivals was great for our morale and confidence. It was a massive psychological boost.
“However, a draw is no use to us this Saturday. It is simply a must-win game.
“In fact, our three remaining matches are must-win games and it is the same for Dunfermline. If they triumph in those matches they are champions but if we do it we will win the league.
“So we will not go there looking to defend in the hope of getting a draw: we will be going all out to win it.”
In recent weeks, Raith have become specialists in coming from behind to secure late results.
Those late wins may have done nothing for manager John McGlynn’s blood pressure but Tade says the belief in the squad to keep going right until the final whistle could be a big factor in deciding who comes out on top today.
“There is a big never-say-die spirit in our dressing room,” he said. “That attitude started a long time ago, last season when we were battling for our lives to stay in the first division.
“We showed great desire and commitment to never give up. That spirit is still there, which has helped us achieve some big results.
“Hopefully it will be the crucial factor which helps us win on Saturday.”
McGlynn has a full squad to choose from, with the exception of striker Gary Wales who has a hamstring injury, while the only Dunfermline players missing are the injured Steven Bell and suspended Kevin Rutkiewicz.
“Everyone else is fit and the players can’t wait to get out there,” said McGlynn.
Pars boss Jim McIntyre said, “We have prepared well and I will put out a team that is capable of winning the game.”
It’s not quite a winner takes all scenario, as there will be two games left after this afternoon’s derby, but if one of the sides emerge victorious it would be hard to see them throwing the title away.
Only tomorrow’s Old Firm encounter will get a bigger billing this weekend than this fixture, and that’s exactly what the promotion battle deserves, according to Pars midfielder Martin Hardie.
He said, “When you get to this stage of the season and you’re trying to win a league it’s games like this that everybody looks forward to.
“The fact that it’s a derby, it’s first versus second, and it looks like being a full house makes for a great match.
“It’s the game of the day in Scotland. Obviously Rangers and Celtic play on Sunday but there’s not much to play for in the other SPL matches.
“All the attention will be on us and quite rightly so, because the first division doesn’t get the coverage, especially on television, that it deserves.
“I look at some of the ESPN games coming up live and I wouldn’t watch them if they were being played in my back garden. I’d shut the curtains.
“I’ve played in the first division for the majority of my career and there always seems to be something to play for right to the end. It’s definitely the case this season
“In the SPL, from fourth to ninth in the table, all players have left to play for are bonuses for their holidays.”
This meeting has dominated the first division’s landscape since the title chase virtually became a two-horse race, and the former St Johnstone man believes it’s a credit to both teams they have focused on the preceding fixtures, despite everyone else fast forwarding to the derby.
He added, “Raith Rovers and ourselves have maintained our form in the last few weeks. Raith are the only team I haven’t played against in this league and it will be interesting to see what they’re like.Stand-out”This match has always stood out on the fixture list and the way it’s panned out it’s ended up being as important as it looked like it might be.
“The league won’t be won tomorrow but if one of us wins that team will have a big edge going into the last two games.
“We’ll be looking to take the game to Raith, but I don’t think we can play our hand too early and leave ourselves open to the counter-attack.
“I don’t want to speak about a draw. We’re at home and for us, we’re viewing it as a must-win game. It’s all about giving maximum effort now. The fans have responded to how we’ve played in the past few matches.
“It was noticeable from the players that they didn’t panic on Saturday when we went down to 10 men. It was good for us to see them stay with us and I’m sure that will be the case tomorrow.”
Rovers’ Gregory Tade admits the club’s players gained a “massive psychological boost” when they came back from the dead to draw with their Fife rivals at East End Park in November.
Rovers were 2-0 down with just seven minutes remaining but scored two late goals and secured a result which the French striker felt was as good as a win.
However, Tade insists the club’s players are under no illusions that nothing less than three points will suffice this afternoon if Raith are to win promotion to the SPL.
“We have really been looking forward to this game for a while,” he said. “There should be a big crowd and a great atmosphere.
“Obviously, we are one point behind Dunfermline but we have been top of the league for most of the season so we are all ready for this type of important game.
“The last time we played them in Dunfermline we managed to secure a draw, which felt as good as a victory.