James McPake has acknowledged that Dundee will be playing against Hamilton today without two of their most important and influential players.
Club captain Kevin Thomson and striker Greg Stewart both picked up injuries against Inverness last week and have been ruled out of the trip to New Douglas Park.
The Dark Blues will also be without Paul McGowan as well as long-term absentees Kyle Letheren and Peter MacDonald with boss Paul Hartley admitting on Thursday that his squad was down to the “bare bones”.
Despite that, McPake insists Dundee are still capable of going to Hamilton and securing a positive result.
The big defender said: “Greg and Kevin will both be huge losses. Greg has been a revelation since coming here from Cowdenbeath.
“He’s come in and shown that he can handle himself in this league and probably has done a bit more than was expected. He’s been one of our best players, if not our best.
“It’s not just been his goals. His hold-up play, the way he can take the ball in with his strength is so impressive.
“Greg is a very good player. I’m delighted he’s come in and taken to it so quickly.
“He’s got a chance to go and make a great career for himself, coming from part-time football just like Paul McGinn has too.
“Kevin missing is a massive loss for us as well. He was outstanding against Inverness last week. He’s got himself back fit and hopefully he won’t be too long out.
“But we’re not the same team without Kevin Thomson. When he’s in there, he can run a game.
“He’s played at the very top level for Rangers in the Champions League and in the Uefa Cup Final.
“In saying that, we’ve got other players coming back to full fitness like Simon Ferry. And Willie Dyer is coming back too.
“So whenever a player goes out there’s always a chance for one to come in and impress to try and take his place.
“The whole thing is about having as strong a squad as possible so that competition is rife for places.”
McPake and the rest of the Dundee team are still licking their wounds following last Saturday’s defeat to Inverness with the Highland outfit taking all three points thanks to a late winner.
The former Hibs centre-half admits Dundee were poor in the second-half of that game and is determined there will be no repeat against Hamilton.
He said: “It’s about doing what we’ve been doing all season and getting back to playing football.
“We were poor in the second half and didn’t come out and play the way we have been. So it’s not so much about bouncing back. It’s more to do with just getting back to what we had been doing.”