Dundee United goalie Rado Cierzniak believes he will be playing in Scottish football’s top fixture when he faces Dundee on Sunday.
The Polish keeper will make the short stroll from Tannadice to Dens Park to take part in what he believes to be the number one match in the country.
He said: “The Dundee derby is the biggest game in the Premiership because at the moment there is no Hearts v Hibs or Rangers v Celtic. So this one is the biggest game.
“It is good for Dundee as a city to have two strong teams here.
“The fact both teams are doing well and both stay in the same street makes it unique.
“We will get changed then walk up the street and that is a great thing. It’s strange having two clubs so close to each other, but it’s a nice experience.
“Dundee have not won a derby for a long time but we don’t think about that. All we want to do is win this game for ourselves and for the fans.
“There will be a very good atmosphere, derbies are very important to people in Scotland. I would say it’s more so here than it is in Poland.”
Cierzniak knows Dundee are unrecognisable from the side that couldn’t beat United when they were last up in the top flight.
He said: “At the moment Dundee are a different team to what they were two years ago.
“I have not seen them play yet but they have had good results and people tell me they are playing really well.
“I think they will be tougher opponents than they were the last time we played them.
“We are expecting this so we know it will be hard work. There will be a lot of tackles in the game.
“We won the games last time but I think this is a much bigger game.
“People didn’t seem as interested back then, maybe that was just me and I didn’t understand it all at the time.
“But more people seem to be interested in this game now.
“I expect a good game on Sunday…and for us to win.”
Of course, United have an important player suspended for Sunday but Cierziak thinks they will cope without striker Nadir Ciftci.
“We have a big squad and a lot of people have been waiting for their chance,” he said.
“Nadir is out but that gives a chance to someone else to play and show what they can do.
“Losing Nadir is a big loss to us because he is an important player but Mario Bilate is here, he can play there.
“He is strong and fast so he is a good replacement for Nadir in this game.
“Hopefully we will have Ryan Dow and Stuart Armstrong back again, I don’t know if they will be. We’ll have to wait and see.”
While Dundee head int the derby on the back of a great win at St Johnstone, United were somewhat disappointed only to draw 2-2 at home to Hamilton on Saturday.
There was a mea culpa from Cierzniak for his part in Accies’ second goal, with the Pole saying: “We were disappointed to lose the goals we did.
“I made a stupid mistake, we gave Hamilton two gifts and that’s why we didn’t win.
“We can’t do that this weekend but I’m sure we will be better. I expect a tough game but I think we’ll get the three points.”