Kind of doubt. I've had some time, since my non exactly self-imposed exile gave me some ideas/insight.
Perhaps what has to happen is, Faith and Buffy HAVE to duke it out again, because this time the First Evil is manlipulating the situation to the degree that, much like the Master, he's planning on opening a gateway INTO it's reality. Though the First can touch ours, it's too powerful or confinded to actually DO anything. So it needs Dawny, the Hellmouth and Buffy to open a controlled dimenisional rift into it's reality. Dawn, (being the Key) is the power source, the Hellmouth is the road way, Buffy is the impetus for controlling the WAY which the Key can be channelled INTO the Hellmouth and thus open a controlled rift into the First's realm.
Comments, Ideas, questions for anyone?