St Johnstone striker Michael O’Halloran believes he can be the man to secure bragging rights for the visitors in their Tayside derby.
The 23-year-old’s brace against Motherwell last week not only helped Saints end a run of six league games without a win but his appearance also triggered a clause in his contract that will see him stay with the Perth club until the end of next season.
With job security in place for another 12 months at least, former Scotland U21 international O’Halloran hopes to cap a great week by putting Dundee to the sword at Dens Park.
“Dundee are doing well just now and they’re ahead of us in the league,” he said. “But a win would take us within touching distance, and that has to be the aim.
“When we were on that bad run you would go home thinking about the game and a few decisions which went against us, but I knew there was enough quality in the dressing room.
“We weren’t too worried, we knew we would turn it around. I came in at the start of this season looking to kick on and that is still my target, so I’m delighted to be staying on.
“The lads and staff have been brilliant, and winning the Scottish Cup last season was incredible.
“I’m playing football every week. I’m at an age when I have to be getting games and I’m doing that here. That was the main reason for leaving Bolton. I was on the fringes of things down there.”
He continued: “Winning the cup was something I couldn’t have dreamed of when I signed.
“What an end to the season that was. Now I want to try and make this season just as successful.”
O’Halloran’s double over Motherwell did not just take his season’s tally to three but has also boosted the striker’s confidence moving forward.
He said: “It is important that I chip in with goals. We had been going through a tough wee spell and I hadn’t been kicking on the way I wanted myself.
“Hopefully we can build on the draw at Partick and then beating Motherwell.
“The whole team will take confidence from those results going into the derby and hopefully we can start moving up the table. That is the aim over the next few weeks.
“The manager has been very positive. Every team goes through a bad spell. It was a first for me since coming here but we have remained very positive. “
In fairness, O’Halloran is probably his own biggest critic after 90 minutes although he revealed that his father Michael, who coaches youths at Celtic, is not shy to give his opinion either.
He said: “He tells me what he thinks of my performances. It’s a good thing. He’s very honest.
“I know myself whether I’ve have a good or bad game, but he points out things I can work on.”
Saints are expected to include James McFadden and Simon Lappin in their squad for the short trip east after they both shook off knocks.
However, there are still doubts over midfielder Murray Davidson, who is recovering from concussion, and David Wotherspoon, who had a bout of tonsillitis. Both players will be assessed before the clash at Dens.