Former Raith player Willie Dyer admits there will be a lack of familiar faces for him in the Kirkcaldy club’s line-up at Stark’s Park.
However, he has warned his Dundee team-mates that despite the sweeping personnel changes, the will to win and the work ethic will be the same as when he was there.
Dundee may be the Championship favourites but Dyer believes that Raith boss Grant Murray has built a squad that should be challenging for the title this season.
The full-back, who was signed from Morton during the summer, was handed his first competitive start on Tuesday night against Forfar in the Ramsdens Cup by Dundee boss John Brown.
Now, Dyer is keeping his fingers crossed that he did enough to convince the manager to give him another run-out against Raith.
He said: “My first year at Stark’s Park was really enjoyable. We were just pipped for the league but it was still a good experience getting there.
“We went toe to toe with Dunfermline but just fell at the final hurdle. There aren’t too many left from my time at the club.
“The likes of Laurie Ellis, Dougie Hill, Davie McGurn and obviously the manager Grant Murray are about the only ones still there.
“Stark’s Park is always a really tough place to go to. They have built a good squad so it is going to be a difficult game but we know that.
“They have brought a few players in and I think they will be up there challenging this season.
“It was always drilled into us when I was at Raith that you have to work really hard and I am sure it will be the same with the boys there now.
“It would be good to be in the team again on Saturday but I am just happy to play and I will have to see what the gaffer decides.”
The Dundee fans have not been slow to voice their displeasure at Dens in the matches against Forfar in the Ramsdens Cup and Alloa in the league.
Part of the frustration has been caused by the patient, measured build-up play.
However, Dyer insists the players are determined to stick to the game plan and have no intention of becoming a long-ball team.
He said: “You can understand where the fans are coming from but we don’t want to try to force passes.
“We want to keep the ball and work hard. We will try to get an early goal but if we don’t, we will keep going for the full 90 minutes.
“The manager always tells us that. There is no point horsing the ball forward just to lose it. We need to keep the ball well to make other teams work.”
Boss Brown believes confidence is high within the Dundee camp following successive victories but he has warned his players that they will face a side in a similar mood after Raith secured back-to-back wins against Fife neighbours Cowdenbeath in the league and Dunfermline in the Ramsdens.
He said: “The boys are in buoyant mood after our two wins and we now look forward to a tough game.
“That’s two back-to-back derbies they have won. We know it will be difficult against them. We need all the lads to go down there, pull their weight and give it 100% concentration.”
Dundee will be without the injured Nicky Riley, John Gibson, Stephen O’Donnell and Iain Davidson.