Jim Jefferies on Friday

04/05/12: JJ - "We're giving it our best shot and there has been a bit of an improvement in results.

Jim Jefferies is not willing to give up on the battle to escape relegation from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League even though Dunfermline will travel to Easter Road on Monday trailing Hibs by five points:-

"We're not giving up the fight. It's a tall order. It was a tall order when I came in. It's probably more difficult now, but until it's impossible you always have that will. The most important thing is to try to take it to the last game of the season and then we'll see. Anything can happen on the last day."

"We need to win the two games and then hope a result goes our way. All we can focus on is this game on Monday night. We both know what's at stake. We can't play for a draw because a draw's no good.

"There's been more consistency of results. The two defeats in the six we've had have been against two good sides (Hearts and Dundee United). We're giving it our best shot and there has been a bit of an improvement in results.

"Maybe if the season was another three or four weeks things would have improved a wee bit better to maybe have pulled us through."

Of the meeting against his former assistant Billy Brown, now no.2 at Hibs. Jefferies added:

"We'll have a chat before it, during it probably as well. There will be no animosity and there will be enough respect shown.We're two lads that know each other so well that we won't fall out about it that's for sure. But it's nothing to do with Billy and I. It's about the players that cross the line."

Defender Alex Keddie is suspended for Dunfermline. Mark Kerr should be fit despite suffering a knock in the 0-0 draw at Inverness. Paul Burns, Steven Bell, Kevin Rutkiewicz and Paul Gallacher are all out.

Hibs captain James McPake missed their match at Pittodrie in midweek and could join suspended striker Leigh Griffiths in missing Monday's game. Midfielder Lewis Stevenson is available again following suspension, but midfielder David Wotherspoon is also suspended for this game while Tom Soares is a doubt and Danny Galbraith is out.