St Johnstone’s Steven Anderson admits he cannot afford to rest on his laurels if he wants to remain a fixture at the heart of the club’s defence.
The centre-half was the recipient of several player of the year awards from fans last season.
Experienced centre-back Michael Duberry has departed over the summer, but boss Derek McInnes has drafted in Frazer Wright from Kilmarnock and David McCracken from Brentford to fight it out for defensive berths.
Anderson and the new boys all received run-outs during Saints’ tour to Ireland last week and they will feature again at Dens Park in Wednesday night’s friendly against Dundee.
The former United player said, “It was good to get noticed last season and there’s no doubt playing alongside someone of Doobs’ experience was great for me.
“It was a real education but now I have to build on it.”
He added, “The gaffer has brought in Frazer and Cracks, who I played a couple of reserve games with years ago at Tannadice. They are both good, experienced players.
“There is always competition for places here and that’s great for the team. For me, it’s just another challenge I have to rise to.”
Saints fans are desperate to make the top six, but Anderson said, “Our main objective has to be staying in the SPL and once we do that we can build on it.
“Over in Ireland we worked hard on the training ground and had a couple of games against Drogheda and UCD. It is all geared towards our first SPL game next weekend at Aberdeen.”CompetitiveHe added, “There will be a competitive edge to the Dundee match because our fans view that as a big derby.
“After this we have Ayr on Saturday and everyone is looking to get game time to stake a claim for Pittodrie.”
Wednesday night’s match will give Sean Higgins, who joined Saints from Dundee this summer, an early chance to be reacquainted with the Dark Blues fans.
And Anderson is not convinced they will forgive and forget the striker’s switch to Perth, adding, “Sean did really well for Dundee so maybe they will go easy on him.
“But it is a derby, even if it is a friendly, so he might have to brace himself for some stick.”
McInnes is again set to run the rule over trialists Danijel Subotic and Marcus Haber after both strikers impressed in Ireland.
His only injury worry is ex-Falkirk ace Carl Finnigan, who suffered severe blisters in the republic.
Meanwhile, Dundee manager Barry Smith is set to play two trialists in the heart of his defence.
Former Hibs and Brechin City player Ewan Moyes and Neil McGregor, who was released by Dunfermline at the end of last season, will be given the chance to impress at centre-half in the absence of the injured first-choice pairing of Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston.
For more on Dundee’s preparations, click here.