Dundee boss Paul Hartley has challenged his side to become shut-out kings so they can make the grade back in the Premiership.
Hartley’s mean Dark Blues travel to take on English outfit Morecambe on the back of consecutive clean sheets in pre-season friendlies against Man City and Brechin.
The Scottish Premiership new boys are gearing up for their eagerly awaited top-flight return, having already signed 10 new players for the step up.
And Hartley wants to see his new-look Dens Park outfit keep up their clean sheet surge at the Global Arena this afternoon in order to help them hold their own when the real stuff gets under way in just a few weeks.
Hartley said: “It’s going to be a very important aspect for us this season.
“We need to get into the habit of keeping clean sheets and it’s been pleasing we’ve been able to do so in our first two games.
“I’ve always built my philosophy on being hard to beat first and foremost because, if you do that, you’ll always have a chance.
“The players know that and we’ve been working on different formations and other things to help us achieve that.
“We want to be as solid as we can at the back both home and away and it’s all about getting into that mindset.
“We kept nine clean sheets out of 14 in the run-in last season on the way to winning the championship.
“That has given us a platform from which to build and obviously we’re about to move up a level in the new season, which will require even more concentration and discipline.”
Hartley has no injury worries for the trip to face the English seaside outfit with the exception of keeper Scott Bain who is recovering from appendicitis.
No1 keeper Kyle Letheren is expected to feature at some point as he comes back from a calf injury, so will share the duties between the sticks with recent signing Grant Adam.
Hartley said: “Kyle will play at some stage. We just didn’t want to take any risks with him up until now.
“Grant has been doing very well for us so that’s been a plus point.”
Meanwhile, Dundee are still hopeful of landing German trialist pair Luka Tankulic and Thomas Konrad, who shone against Man City, while former Crystal Palace Kieron Cadogan will feature again as a trialist.