Mason hopes dogfight experience can help Pars to great escape

Victory is a must for the Pars, who trail Hibs by five points with two games to play, and Mason takes confidence from the last trip to Easter Road, which the visitors won 1-0 last November courtesy of an early goal by former Hearts defender Austin McCann. “We’ve got a lot of experienced boys in the team and sometimes it’s what’s needed at times like this,” said Mason, who has been in relegation battles before with Dunfermline, surviving in 2005 and failing in 2007.

“Hopefully that can see us through on Monday to get us this result. We’ve been there before and won. We can do it. It’s never an easy place to go, but if we can get an early goal and get their fans on their backs, that’s what we’ll be aiming to do.”

Dunfermline travel across the Firth of Forth on a three-match unbeaten run following a draw at St Mirren, a win over Aberdeen and a draw at Inverness. Responding from two goals down to draw in Paisley in a thrilling 4-4 draw pushed Dunfermline on, according to Mason.

He said: “I think the turning point was the St Mirren one when we were 4-2 down and the spirit of the boys showed to come back and get a point.

“It was a massive result and, with getting the win at home against Aberdeen, we’re still in with a fighting chance, but the games are running out.”

The 32-year-old rued the fact time is not on the Pars’ side, with Hibs stretching their lead in midweek by winning at Aberdeen. “It’s not getting any easier,” he said. “We know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to go there to try to win the game. We’ve got two games left and there are still six points to be had.”

Even if the Pars win at Easter Road, they will have to beat Kilmarnock at home next Saturday and hope Hibs fail to pick up a point at Inverness.

First, though, a win is a must in tonight’s televised fixture. Mason added: “It will be a high-tempo game, I’d have thought. I think it will be an open game and hopefully we can get the goals we need and take it to the last game.”