Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara feels a home game against Aberdeen is the ideal way to raise the curtain on the new campaign.
Tannadice will be packed tomorrow when the Dons make the rather shorter trip down the A90 than the 3,500- mile journey to Kazakhstan they endured in midweek for their Europa League tie against Kairat Almaty.
McNamara feels United are fit and ready for what will be a considerable challenge against the team that was the best of the rest behind Celtic last time around.
“It is important for us to get a good start and we are at home as well,” said the Tangerines boss.
“It is a great fixture to kick off with.
“It should be a near sell-out and will be live on telly as well.
“So I think everybody is looking forward to it.”
McNamara was interested to see how Dons boss Derek McInnes lined his team up in Almaty but the United gaffer is only really concerned with how his players perform.
He added: “Derek made a few changes on Thursday and went with three at the back.
“Whether he does that on Sunday, we’ll just have to wait and see about that.
“I am more focused on how we play.
“Aberdeen should be stronger than they were last season but it’s up to the rest of us to close the gap.
“I am confident, given what we have here, that we can do that.”
United will be without injured trio Ryan Dow, Callum Morris and Paul Paton, while McNamara confirmed that new boys Rodney Sneijder and Darko Bodul “will play some part” against the Dons.