He may still be overseeing pre-season preparations in Budapest but Dark Blues boss Paul Hartley is already looking forward to experiencing a Dundee derby for the first time.
League games with city rivals United are back on the agenda following the Dens Park side’s promotion, with the first taking place on September 20.
And Hartley says he cannot wait for the game and to lock horns with the Tangerines’ management team.
Hartley said: “I’m looking forward to the derbies. I obviously know Jackie McNamara, Darren Jackson and Simon Donnelly.
“I’ve never been to a Dundee derby. But I’m hearing a lot about them all the time, in terms of the atmosphere, especially the friendliness between the supporters before the game.
“It’s really exciting for the players too as some of them won’t have played in a Dundee derby.
“I really can’t wait. It’s good for the club and the city although we have a lot of hard work and games to get through before then.”
Hartley was involved in more than a few derbies himself as a player with Hearts and Celtic playing against respective city rivals Hibs and Rangers.
And he admitted that he will have to take a different approach now that he is a manager.
Hartley said: “I’ve had the derbies as a player and now I’m going to get them as a manager. But it’s one of the games you do look forward to. When the fixtures come out you always look for that one.
“I suppose I’ll need to be a bit calmer and more composed in the dug-out. I really do want to experience my first Dundee derby as a manager and it’s at home too.
“I think for the fans and the players it’s great too. I’ve been told about the short walk across the road for derbies, and how the Sky cameras have followed the players in the past.
“We’ll stick by that tradition and walk down as a team. United will do the same. It’s really unusual for a derby, where players can walk down the road to the opposition ground.
“You don’t realise how close it is. I’m sure they will be great occasions.
“We’ll have to be mentally prepared for it as that’s going to be a big thing for us this season. I think we can work on the mental side of things.
“We’ve got a toughness about us in the dressing-room where we have some characters. You can hear them in training. We treat them as adults and they are totally committed.”
Hartley is currently having a look at two unnamed German trialists in Hungary, a centre-forward and a centre-half, and he revealed there is another striker being assessed.
He added: “We’ll keep looking at the trialists. We’ve got another one in, a Hungarian striker who has been recommended to us.
“You know what the Germans are like. They’re very methodical, professional, strong and fit. Kyle Letheren though is still off with his a little knock on his calf. He’s been off for a few days.
“Hopefully he’ll be OK to train with us by the end of the week.”