Maximum points will have to be taken before the split if Dundee United are to finish in the top half of the SPL.
That is the view of Tannadice boss Jackie McNamara, whose team face St Johnstone next Monday in Perth then Aberdeen at home before the league divides into two.
“I would say we need two wins,” declared McNamara.
“St Johnstone are four points ahead of us so it’s important we win that one. We will just concentrate on what we have to do and not too much on the opposition.
“We give every team respect but it is up to what we do and that is what I keep telling the players. They’re all big games the derbies against Dundee were called the biggest of the season at the time.
“And now we’ve got these two to get into the top six. So we’re treating them all the same, we just want to win as often as we can. They’re massive games. It’s frustrating because we’ve had chances to get into the top six but haven’t taken them. “We have two games left and we need to put it right.”
Meanwhile, there was a progress report from McNamara as regards star striker Johnny Russell, who is out with a leg fracture.
“Johnny is due another X-ray soon so we will find out more about his condition,” said the boss.
“He has been able to do a bit of work on the bike but we are not going to push him until he is ready.”