Source: Team_Talk
Thought of drop haunts Arfield
But the midfielder knows that will be a distinct possibility if he helps Falkirk win Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Dunfermline.[LNB]The Bairns are four points adrift at the foot of the Scottish Premier League, with just their five post-split fixtures remaining.[LNB]They are favourites for the drop but also favourites to reach their first cup final for 12 years.[LNB]With the Scottish Cup showpiece taking place a week after the SPL season finishes, Arfield admitted the prospect of both happening had crossed his mind.[LNB]"I've thought about it," said the 20-year-old, who claims Falkirk will be playing the equivalent of cup finals for the rest of the season.[LNB]"We've got five games and we're playing the teams that are round about us.[LNB]"It's going to be five cup finals for us and it's up to us to go and get ourselves out of the situation."[LNB]Even if reaching a Hampden final means running out at the stadium as a First Division player, Arfield would much rather swallow his pride than lose on Sunday.[LNB]"It's a great occasion but, if you lose, it's going to be unbelievably hard to take," said Arfield, who warned Dunfermline would be no pushovers after shocking Aberdeen in the previous round.[LNB]"Dunfermline going up to Pittodrie and winning, they'll not be taken lightly.[LNB]"So we know what we're up against and hopefully we can go and get a win."[LNB]Sunday's semi-final has added spice because of the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.[LNB]Despite being closer geographically to other teams, Falkirk and Dunfermline have been each other's arch-rivals for almost half a century.[LNB]With the Pars currently in the First Division, Sunday's game will be the sides' first meeting in almost two years, meaning the fixture will be a new experience to many of the players on show.[LNB]Arfield is among them if you were to take only first-team games into account.[LNB]If not, the match will be the latest in series of run-ins he has had with the Pars while making his way up the Falkirk youth ranks.[LNB]"Obviously you know the rivalry right through the age groups," said the Scotland Under-21 international, before confessing he had been completely ignorant of any animosity before joining the Bairns as a 14-year-old.[LNB]"It's going to be a massive occasion; the fans will be right up for it so I'm sure the two sets of players will be as well."[LNB]Arfield insists rivalries run deeper than just first-team level.[LNB]"I'm sure if you asked the Celtic and Rangers boys, they'd feel the same, even the under-17s," he said.[LNB]"You always feel it's a wee bit intense and you know there's a lot at stake.[LNB]"Obviously, at the national stadium, there's going to be a lot more at stake."[LNB]But despite having a dislike for Dunfermline bred into him during his formative years, Arfield's feelings about Sunday's opponents pale into comparison to those of fellow academy graduate Tam Scobbie.[LNB]"To put it lightly, he doesn't really like them," said Arfield.[LNB]"That's obviously rubbed off on all the boys."[LNB][LNB][LNB] Falkirk 11/10, Draw 9/4, Dunfermline 5/2
