Dundee boss Paul Hartley is determined tomorrow’s derby will be the last of the season because if it is, it will mean his side have secured a second successive top-six finish.
Considering Dundee United’s desperate plight at the foot of the Premiership table, much of the spotlight in the build-up to the game at Tannadice has fallen on Mixu Paatelainen’s side and their need to take all three points.
However, Hartley insists his team have a similar big incentive to do well and when asked if he felt the game meant more to United, he quickly replied: “No. It means more to us in terms of getting into the top six.
“We need the points just as much as Dundee United do so the game means more to us as a group and to our supporters.
“The derbies always have a bit of spice to them but we try to prepare the players as much as we can, treating it like any other league game.
“But it is a massive fixture for us and the supporters.
“We had a really good result (against United) in January, a really good comeback in August.
“The training has been good this week, the tempo has been high and the players want to do well.
“We have four games to try to get as many points as possible to cement a top six place.
“That’s our aim, to make this the last derby of the season by being in the top half.
“It has been our aim since the start of the season to give ourselves an opportunity to be in the top six come the split.”
Hartley’s derby opposite number Paatelainen suggested earlier this week that Dundee fans will be coming to Tannadice looking for their side to “nail” United to reduce their chances of survival.
However, the Dark Blues boss insisted that all he was focused on was securing three points, not what the game could mean from a wider perspective to their opponents.
He added: “I think Dundee fans want us to go there, put on a good show and get the right result.
“For me, the group of players and the club, it’s to try to win the game. That’s all I am thinking about get the three points and then have a break and prepare for the next game.”
Dundee have a clean bill of health apart from centre-half Julen Etxabeguren who is suffering from a shoulder problem and Hartley revealed that he had made his mind up on his team selection at the start of this week.
He added: “I always have my team in place and in my head by Monday.
“If there are a few injuries, then that totally changes it but I like to get my team in my head by Monday and not leave it to the last minute.
“I like to get a team in my head that I think can go and win the game.
“Everyone is fine apart from Julen but there is better news on him as well.
“We are looking at him coming back for the Ross County game as he doesn’t need surgery.
“He has been so unfortunate with strange injuries, to be honest with you.
“But apart from him, everybody is good to go.”