It might not carry a Champions’ League place this season, but St Johnstone have their sights firmly set on second place in the SPL.
Assistant manager Tommy Wright believes nobody has yet set themselves apart from the pack as favourites for the best of the rest spot behind runaway leaders Celtic, and now is the time for Saints to stake their claim.
A win over Dundee could even take the Perth club above two teams in one go, and into that coveted position.
Wright said: “It was a vital three points we got against St Mirren because the league is so tight.
“There are a few teams who, if they could put together a few wins you can go into second place, so that has to be the incentive for us.
“We also have to win to help us cement our top-six status because we haven’t really stolen a march on the teams beneath us.
“Another win would enhance our top prospects of the top six, a Europa League place and our chances of claiming that runners-up spot.
“Right now I don’t think you can label any team favourites to finish second to Celtic, so that is creating real excitement and hopefully that will have the positive impact on attendances we haven’t seen as yet.
“There’s no Champions League incentive like there was last season but St Johnstone have never finished second in the league. Irrespective of the rewards, that is something to strive for.
“It really is something for the players here to aim for and makes the derby even more important.”
Wright knows it is in his team’s job description tomorrow to “make things even worse” for crisis club Dundee.
“We have done well against Dundee this season but this one is different because they have a new manager in charge for his first home game and he will be seeking a reaction from his players,” he said.
“People will obviously be for or against the sacking of Barry Smith and John Brown’s appointment, but that is not out of the ordinary at a football club.
“No one likes to see any man lose their job and Barry had been with Dundee a long, long time, so it must have been a difficult decision for the directors.
“I’m sure they have been trying to act in their club’s best interests but clearly there has been a bit of fallout from the decision.
“It has probably put John Brown in an unfair position but we have to make things even worse for Dundee. Ideally, we get off to a good start at Dens and put them under even more pressure.
“We have to adopt a purely selfish point of view. We are going there for three points to help our own cause.
“We won’t go there thinking we are playing a team that is bottom of the league. They will get as much respect as any other side.”
Dave Mackay and Chris Millar are both available but Murray Davidson is suspended.