Jamie Robson insists Dundee United will be treating today’s match against Dunfermline with the utmost respect.
There do, of course, have the incentive of reaching the last four of the Irn-Bru Cup by beating the Pars in the lunchtime kick-off at East End Park but arguably most important of all for the Tangerines is keeping their momentum going.
United are on an exceptional run at the moment, with their last eight games reading: win, draw, win, win, win, win, win, win.
So although this competition is nowhere near as important to the club as the Championship, they will be going for it.
Robson said: “It is a quarter-final so we have a chance to get to the last four so that’s a real incentive to go down to Dunfermline and win the game.
“It is also a cup the club hasn’t won before so we’ll be trying our best to get through.
“As a player, I personally want to win every match I am involved in and if there is a cup at the end of it then I’m delighted with that.”
Robson has come back into the United side in place of Paul Dixon, who is facing a minimum of our weeks out with medial ligament damage.
He came on as a sub for the injured Dixon in last Saturday’s terrific win away to Queen of the South, then started against Dunfermline at Tannadice on Tuesday as United grabbed the 1-0 win that sent them joint-top of the table with Hibs.
Robson is delighted that he has returned to an in-form side.
He said: “I haven’t had any problem slotting back in to left-back.
“That’s my position and I love playing there for United.
“It is good to be back involved and it is especially nice to be playing in a winning side that is on such a good run.
“Everyone is on a high at United just now and it’s all good at training.
“There is a great atmosphere at the club.
“We have had new signings but I think it is safe to say that we are all gelling together now.
“Every day in training you get to know your teammates that bit better.
“I think we are all just settling down.”
Robson, who has joined the rest of the United squad in wishing Dixon a speedy recovery, revealed how supportive his senior colleague has been of him.
He said: “When I was just coming through Dicker helped me a lot.
“He has given me a lot of advice and support.
“Now I am trying to get his position because he is out injured but he is still looking out for me.
“We are both in it together.
“As players at United, we have one anothers’ backs and that’s a really healthy thing.”
After this cup-tie, United go into a hectic pre-festive season spell of league action, with the massive home clash against Hibs sandwiched in between tough away trips to Morton and Ayr United before they head to Stark’s Park to play Raith Rovers on December 17.
Robson is relishing the challenges ahead, saying: “There is a long way to go in the league – we are well aware of that.
“Hibs are a good side and they will win loads of games.
“We have to try to match them and then, if we can beat them at home when we play them at the start of next month, that would be really encouraging.
“I think that would put the pressure on Hibs to keep winning as many games as we do.
“If we can get to the top on our own we would be looking to stay there but we are not getting ahead of ourselves because we know this is such a tough division.”
United will shake things up today, with Lewis Toshney poised to make his comeback from injury, Stewart Murdoch set for a sub’s role, and the likes of Luis Zwick, Cammy Smith and Nick van der Velden all odds-on to start.