Dundee United have offered new deals to out-of-contract duo Sean Dillon and Calum Butcher.
Manager Jackie McNamara has told both his club captain and tough-tackling midfielder that they are part of his future plans.
However, it looks as if this season will be goalkeeper Rado Cierzniak’s last at Tannadice, with the big Pole keen to move to England according to his boss.
With United general manager David Southern taking charge of the talks, McNamara confirmed: “We have made offers to Sean and Calum so we are hoping to get them over the line.
“David is dealing with it at the moment so hopefully we will have some news soon.
“I want them to stay and we are trying to get other players to extend their deals too.
“We are looking at new players for next season.
“We have targets for the summer but nothing concrete yet.
“As for Rado, he wants to assess all his options.
“His contract expires at the end of the season and I think he has ambitions to play in England.
“We will see what happens,
“He has not said whether he is leaving or has got something yet.
“He will just focus on the next three games and then take it from there.”
Dillon is likely to be a key figure for the run-in because right-back Ryan McGowan has kicked his last ball of the campaign after picking up an injury in the 2-1 defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle on Tuesday night.
McNamara added: “Ryan has suffered a tear to his thigh.
“It is nothing major but will keep him out for two or three weeks so his season is probably finished.
“It is not ideal because we have a few players missing now.
“That’s four we won’t have for the final three games (McGowan joins Ryan Dow, Mario Bilate and Paul Paton on the sidelines).
“But these things happen and you just have to get on with it.”
The loss in the Highlands means the Tangerines can now, realistically, only get fourth spot in the Premiership.
They face their rivals for that finish, St Johnstone, at McDiarmid Park tomorrow.
McNamara said: “It’s a big game for both teams.
“There is a lot of stake for the pair of us.
“It won’t be easy because St Johnstone have been a bit of a bogey team for us.
“They are experienced, they have a good work ethic and sometimes it just happens like that.
“We need to be streetwise against them because they defend well as a team and we have found it hard to crack them.
“We beat them 4-0 in one game last season but Tommy Wright has them well organised and very disciplined.
“The pitch isn’t the best, it’s bobbly and not conducive to a lot of good football.
“So that’s something we have to cope with.
“Against Inverness we didn’t do that as well as we could have so this weekend we have to play to the conditions better.
“It will be a physical game and we will have to match them.”