Paul Paton’s last visit to Dens Park was one of the St Johnstone midfielder’s least enjoyable occasions as a professional footballer.
But, eight months after the Dundee United team he was captaining were relegated to the Championship by city rivals Dundee, Paton is going back in wholly different circumstances.
With a five-game unbeaten streak to their name and Hearts and Aberdeen in their sights at the top end of the Premiership table, Saints are on an end of year high.
And the Dark Blues side they will come up against are battling to stop their campaign turning into a relegation battle.
“We’re looking to keep this unbeaten run going,” Paton said.
“Dundee are a good side and we’re expecting another tough game but we’re full of confidence.”
Paton has no bitterness about the reaction in the stands, on the pitch or along the touchline when Dundee sent United down in May.
“I don’t think anybody went over the top,” said the former Partick Thistle man. “You know what to expect from your local rivals if you get relegated by them.
“We were always going to be relegated. It was just disappointing that it was that game.
“But you take it on the chin and move on.
“If I was a Dundee fan I’d have celebrated in the same manner and if I was a Dundee player I would have done the same.
“It wasn’t easy to take.
“It is a career low, along with losing a cup final.
“But you bounce back. I’ve moved clubs now and Dundee United have bounced back as well.
“We’re going there with our confidence up and under no pressure. We can be relaxed. The pressure’s on Dundee. They need to take the game to us.”