Keith Watson is confident Dundee United can overcome their selection crisis and win yet another city derby.
The Tangerines host Dundee at Tannadice on Sunday looking to maintain their 100% record against their neighbours this season.
They have recorded one friendly victory, two league successes and earned the bragging rights when the sides met at Dens Park in the Scottish Cup quarter-final earlier this month.
This time, though, they face arguably their toughest challenge yet, with a host of players set to miss out due to injury or suspension.
There will definitely be no Johnny Russell (leg fracture), Gavin Gunning (knee), Willo Flood (ban) or John Rankin (also suspended), while Jon Daly (groin) is extremely doubtful and Brian McLean (hamstring) is facing a fitness race.
That is a list to worry any United fan and when added to the fact that Dundee have experienced something of a resurgence under interim boss John Brown then the favourite’s tag they have carried so far begins to look a little ropey.
However, Watson is adamant that the Tangerines will still have enough to see off the visitors and boost their chances of finishing in the SPL’s top six.
“We have a good squad here and we are all capable of doing a job so there will be no problem at all,” said an upbeat Watson.
“Three lads (Marcus Tornstrand, Rory Boulding and Robert Thomson) all made their debuts down at St Mirren on Saturday and did really well. They weren’t fazed by it at all.
“We do have a lot of players missing and it’s probably as bad as I can remember in my time here but we still have potential match-winners like Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong.
“These guys can turn a game with a moment of brilliance.”
Watson is well aware of being at the business end of the season now, with United having just the derby, a trip to St Johnstone then a home match against Aberdeen to play before the league cuts itself in two.
He said: “It’s getting towards the split so Sunday is a massive game for us. If we can win that to go into the international break we would give ourselves a good chance of making the top-six after we came back.
“There is no doubt we will need big results in the last three games (before the split) which is what we will be pushing for.”
While the Tangerines have held the upper hand against Dundee this season, they haven’t exactly been turning on the style at home and could be vulnerable to a group of players who have sparked themselves back to life.
“We have been poor at Tannadice this season,” conceded Watson.
“Since the manager came in we have won a couple of games and it would be great to win the derby in front of our own fans.
“They would be buzzing and it would make for a fantastic occasion.”
“This could be the last derby of the season as we are still hoping to finish in the top six. So Dundee will definitely be up for it. They won’t want to lose it from that point of view.
“They gave it a real good go in the last game in the Scottish Cup when we sneaked it in the end. We will need to match them every inch of the way in terms of being ready for it.
“Dundee have really picked up as far as performances go as well as results. They will be really looking forward to coming to Tannadice and giving it their best shot.”