Dundee United duo Chris Erskine and Paul Paton have been tipped to be stars this season as they prepare to face old club Partick Thistle.
Relations have been strained between the Tangerines and Jags since Jackie McNamara left Firhill for Tannadice in January. McNamara’s subsequent swoop for Paton and Erskine also didn’t go down well in Maryhill.
Now the clubs are involved in a disagreement over ticketing prices for Friday night’s Premiership curtain-raiser, with United arguing their fans are being asked to pay more than home supporters.
Paton and Erskine could get some verbal volleys from the stands but the players will have to put all that out of their minds, though, when they attempt to get their league campaign off to a winning start.
And United assistant boss Simon Donnelly, who left Thistle with McNamara believes they can do not just that but also go on to prosper with their new club.
“I think Paul and Chris will do well for us this season,” declared Donnelly.
“That’s why we brought them here as we know what they have to offer. Paton will give us that wee bit of discipline in the middle of the park and he is a very good passer as well.
“People talk about his workrate but there’s more to him than just that as he can play.”
While the fixture could be tetchy, the main thing for Donnelly is bringing three points back home to Dundee.
Donnelly said: “It’s vital to get off to a good start. If you start the season with a couple of wins then the confidence immediately rises.
“It’s all about momentum which is what we want to try and get going for us.”
Thistle will be boosted by the double signing of former Aberdeen midfielder Isaac Osbourne and ex-Barcelona youth Simon Colina Dominguez.
Osbourne, 27, ended a two-year spell at Pittodrie this summer, while 18-year-old Dominguez was captain of Barca’s under-19 side last season.
Manager Alan Archibald said: “I think we are signing two quality players here.
“Isaac is the experienced SPL player who I have been very keen to bring and I have only had Simon here for a couple of weeks earlier in pre-season, but you can see that he has got plenty to offer.
“It will be interesting to see how quickly he settles into the Scottish game but from an ability point of view, he certainly has that in abundance and it will be great to watch him progress.”