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LUKE Leahy has urged Falkirk to piece together a hat-trick of victories in the coming weeks to set up a festive cracker against Hibs.
The teams jostled for promotion last season, with the Bairns eventually finishing second on goal difference before knocking their Easter Road rivals out of the play-offs in dramatic fashion.
The pair are expected to challenge each other for the Championship title this term and only six points separate Peter Houston’s men in third from Hibs at the summit.
Falkirk host struggling Queen of the South on Saturday afternoon before trips to face eighth-placed Dumbarton and second-bottom Dunfermline.
And, with Hibs the visitors on Hogmanay, Leahy is hoping they can go into that mouthwatering clash on a high after winning their last two outings, against Ayr and St Mirren.
With the teams having battled out a 1-1 draw in the capital when Falkirk had Tom Taiwo red-carded last month, Leahy said: “Falkirk and Hibs have always had feisty games.
“I think the last one was one of the best games I’ve played in, just for us frustrating them so much.
“So, we’re looking forward to that, but we’ve got three massive games before that and we need to win them to make that a very good game.
“Winning the next three matches will make the Hibs game a big one.
PRESSURE
“To win last Saturday [against St Mirren] was a massive result because it gets us six points behind and puts a bit of pressure on them.
“We just need to keep winning games and see where it takes us.”
However, Leahy is quick to credit Dundee United as probable title challengers after the Tannadice side pulled level with Hibs at the top of the table with a 1-0 win against Neil Lennon’s side last Friday.
The Bairns full-back added: “We were happy to see Dundee United win. I know they’ve got a bit of momentum now but it does keep Hibs closer.
“United played very well against Hibs and they played well against us a few weeks ago at Tannadice.
“They’re a good side and they’re difficult to break down, so they definitely should be contenders.”