Darren O’Dea has deemed Dundee’s game against Ross County as a must-win match in their quest for a top six finish.
The Dens Park club are in seventh place in the Premiership, three points behind the Staggies with a game in hand and a better goal difference of two.
With only three fixtures remaining before the league splits into two, the Irishman, who recently signed a new three-year deal following his arrival on a short-term contract in January after leaving Indian Super League club Mumbai City, believes County need to be caught on Saturday.
The former Celtic and Blackpool defender said: “Must win? I think so.
“Obviously there are still two games after it and if you pick up six points from that, you would have a chance I suppose but they are the team above us.
“We have a better goal difference so if we win the game, we go up into sixth so yes, we are at the stage of the season where there are no more real chances. We need to do it now.
“We are at home. We have had a break so there is no excuses. We will go into the game confident and looking to win.
“It’s there for us, it is in our hands, what more can you ask for?
“It is down to how to perform as a team. I know a couple of the players who I played with in the youth teams at Celtic and they have some really good players.
“The worst they will be is hard working and difficult to play against but they also have a lot of quality in the team as do we. So it should be a good game and one we are all looking forward to.”
O’Dea admits the new contract offer from the Tayside club came earlier than he might have expected and he was more than happy to sign having enjoyed the first few months at Dens Park.
“I am delighted to tie down my long-term future here and hopefully I will have a few successful years,” he said.
“The discussions happened sooner than I expected but I was more than happy with that.
“There wasn’t much negotiation, there wasn’t much to it. It has been fantastic. I have fitted in.
“I am going into the last eight games of the season knowing – please God – that I will be here for the next three years so it is important for me, for the club, that, hopefully, we can qualify for the top six.”