Dundee boss John Brown insists he has a squad able to cope with the burden of expectation as they prepare for the big Championship kick-off on Saturday.
The Dens manager was an interested spectator in Dumfries last weekend as he cast an eye over the Dark Blues’ opening day opponents Queen of the South.
The Doonhamers, under the new management of former Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre, recorded a 3-0 win against Annan thanks to a second half hat-trick by ex-Dundee player Derek Lyle.
Brown is aware his players will be in for a tough match at Palmerston but he has stressed his side, who are strong favourites to win promotion this year, are more than capable of dealing with the pressure.
The manager said: “We are looking forward to the start of the league campaign. We will be the ones that everyone in the Championship is after.
“So every game will be a cup final for us but we have a good, experienced group of boys.
“We have added Peaso (Peter MacDonald), Gavin Rae and we already have lads like Matt Lockwood, Kevin McBride and Iain Davidson boys who have been round the block.
“We didn’t have too many talkers on the pitch last season but Gavin is a big character and lads like him and Peaso are also great in the dressing-room.
“But we will be sending out a team to win every game. There will be no negative play from us.”
Meanwhile, Dark Blues goalkeeper John Gibson is set to undergo surgery on Thursday in a bid to clear up a knee problem.