Dundee United defender Callum Morris will not change his style of play to prevent further injury problems.
The 26-year-old has injured his Achilles, knee, hamstring and thigh in the 20 months since joining United, limiting him to just nine appearances so far this season.
The former Dunfermline centre-back made his first appearance of 2016 at Motherwell last Friday and picked up another heavy knock during an uncompromising 50-50 with Motherwell skipper Keith Lasley.
But Morris, who hopes to shake off the injury and faces Dundee on Sunday, said: “It’s not in my nature to (tackle more softly).
“But I think a lot of them have been unlucky – the one at Hearts I just turned. That’s how most people do their knee I suppose.
“On that one I was quite lucky it was only the medial collateral ligament and not the anterior cruciate ligament like Mario (Bilate) did at the start of the season.
“Hopefully that’s the end of it, but I’m not going to change the way I play.”
Morris believes Sunday’s Tannadice clash will be one of the biggest derbies in years because of what is at stake for both clubs.
United failed to cut their eight-point deficit at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership when they lost at Fir Park, while Motherwell’s victory and Dundee’s subsequent home defeat by Hearts saw Paul Hartley’s men slip out the top six.
Morris said: “I think it’s massive, not only for us as a squad, but for the fans and the club.
“If we can give everyone a boost, obviously it’s a huge game. Especially since, I think coming into this season we had only lost one derby in years.
“So to get a win in the derby and get the bragging rights back as well is huge for everyone. But it’s just another game as well, and it’s the three points that matter at the end of the day. But it’s huge and can give everyone a lift definitely.”