Dundee’s Mark O’Hara is fully focused on making it into the top six this season – and also has today’s opponents St Johnstone firmly in his sights.
The Dark Blues currently sit in seventh place, seven points behind Saints who are fifth.
Paul Hartley’s side missed out on a chance to cut that gap two Wednesdays ago at Dens when they were beaten by Partick Thistle who now occupy sixth spot in the table.
However, O’Hara is confident Dundee can bounce back this afternoon at McDiarmid Park against a side they beat comfortably the last time they met on Hogmanay at Dens.
The 21-year-old midfielder said: “We have spoken this week and our target is definitely still top six.
“St Johnstone are seven points ahead of us just now and if we win it reduces to four and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be looking at catching them.
“Obviously it is going to be difficult with regards to the top six as Partick are also doing well but we just need to focus on ourselves and keep winning as many games as possible.
“But we know we cannot afford too many slip-ups.
“With the exception of the Partick game, I think looking at recent matches, we are the form team.
“St Johnstone are struggling a bit so they are maybe under a little pressure.
“They obviously have a big incentive because if they win, they will be comfortable in the top six.
“But we can hopefully try to catch them.
“St Johnstone are always a well-organised team so I don’t think many people would have predicted we would win 3-0 the last time we played them.
“But they have a lot of options and good depth so it is always a tough game against them.
“McDiarmid Park is one of the toughest places to go to in Scotland but we will do the best we can to upset them.
“Everybody here is still very confident we can make the top six.
“Maybe people looking in from outside might not be tipping us but we feel we have the players and the squad to achieve that top six.”
Prior to the Partick defeat, Dundee had secured memorable wins against Rangers and Motherwell, playing a high tempo style that the opposition struggled to live with.
However, the flip side of that was it took a lot out of the Dark Blues but O’Hara is convinced that having had some time off because of the Scottish Cup last weekend, the squad are refreshed and ready to go again.
He said: “I think the break was what we were needing.
“We had a couple of tough games and good results before the disappointing one against Partick.
“We had targeted a win against Thistle so it was a bad result for us and a wee setback for the top six.
“Obviously, the way we want to play just now is physically demanding.
“So it was good to get a wee recharge of the batteries and we are raring to go again this Saturday.
“Hopefully we can put in a similar performance to the Motherwell and Rangers games.”
Dundee are sure to take a big support through to McDiarmid Park and O’Hara admitted the fans always give the players a big boost.
When asked if they make a difference at away games, O’Hara insisted: “Definitely. There was a good turnout for the Motherwell match and they were very vocal.
“That does give the players a lift to run that extra yard, to do that extra bit.
“I know it shouldn’t be like that but they do count as the 12th man and they give you an extra boost.”
O’Hara has also received a boost recently, netting goals in successive games against Rangers and Motherwell.
Now, he is looking to continue hitting the back of the net on a regular basis.
He added: “I have been playing further up the park and it is something that will hopefully continue for me.
“Adding goals to my game is something that I have always wanted to improve on.
“The thing is in training I would say finishing is one of my best assets but maybe in games I have not been in positions to finish very often.
“That is twice this season I have scored twice in a row but fingers crossed this time I can add to my tally quicker.
“The last occasion, I scored in a couple of games and then I was injured which wasn’t great.
“That set me back a bit but hopefully I can kick on this time.”