Dundee face Kilmarnock at Dens on Saturday in what is their biggest game of the season so far.
Win and the Dark Blues are off the bottom of the league for at least 24 hours. Lose and a worrying gap will be opening up.
That makes victory vital and it’s likely to be decided by who comes out on top in several key battles on and off the pitch.
Tonight we look at where the destination of those massive points will be decided.
Josh Meekings v Kris Boyd
He’s 34 and has made as many headlines this season for his new-found career in media punditry than for his performances on the park.
Even so, Killie striker Kris Boyd is a man Dundee will have to stop if they are to achieve their aim of getting the three points that would take them off the bottom of the Premiership.
It won’t be easy because, if former Rangers and Scotland man Boyd is not the force he once was, he is still a dangerous striker with an eye for goal.
A respectable haul of six goals from 14 appearances this term shows that and he was on target as Steve Clarke’s men won at Hearts last time out.
Stopping him will take a team effort but the man handed most of the responsibility could be Josh Meekings.
As an experienced top-flight defender, he’ll know all about the threat of Boyd and, while the Dee defence has been leaky this term, Meekings’ own form has been good.
Marcus Haber v Gordon Greer
Another clash of two of the big men who will be on the park on Saturday. Marcus Haber may not be a prolific goal scorer but he does lead the line well for Dundee.
The way he brings others into the game high up the pitch could be vital to the chances of a home success and there is always the chance he will chip in with a goal, just as he did when he grabbed the winner when these two met in another vital basement battle near the end of last season.
The Canadian was also on target in Dundee’s last outing, the 2-1 defeat at Hibs earlier this month. His performance that day was impressive and his goal well-taken, and Neil McCann will be looking for the same again.
For once, though, Haber may not have a height advantage over the man marking him, veteran Gordon Greer.
The 36-year-old has been playing well and his experience was vital in the away draws at Rangers and Celtic that sparked the recent Killie revival. His battle with Haber is one to watch.
Cammy Kerr v Jordan Jones
Collectively, Kilmarnock will arrive at Dens Park with confidence high after recent good results and left-winger Jordan Jones has had a further boost since he last turned out at club level.
Included in the Northern Ireland squad for their World Cup play-off against Switzerland, it was accepted he was in there only for the experience but got on for the final 20 minutes or so of Sunday’s second leg as the Irish went agonisingly close to beating the Swiss.
Despite the disappointment of that result, take it as read Jones will be feeling good about himself.
Up against home full-back Cammy Kerr, that could change. In the 1-1 draw at Rugby Park in September, Kerr did a good job of keeping the wide man quiet. He’ll be looking for a repeat of that good work and, this time round, will also be keen to get forward and test Jones’ defensive capabilities.
Neil McCann v Steve Clarke
Ultimately, it’s the players on the pitch who decide the destination of any three points and every manager worth their salt will tell you that.
But the men picking the teams also have a big say and this clash throws up an intriguing head-to-head on that score.
In the dark blue corner is Neil McCann, the young rookie boss who likes his team to play open, attractive and attacking football. For the most part he’s achieved that but the problem has been results.
As a veteran coach and manager, opposite number Steve Clarke is very much a man who puts the final score above all else. A long-time deputy to the pragmatic Jose Mourinho in his first spell at Chelsea, that approach should come as no surprise. And, so far at Kilmarnock, it’s usually worked for Clarke, particularly on the road where he’s unbeaten in games at Rangers, Celtic and Hearts.
Those results will give them reason to believe they can do a job at Dens. It’s up to McCann and Co to show otherwise.
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