Dundee’s Scottish Cup clash with Queen of the South marks a fresh start for Craig Curran after his move over the road from Dundee United earlier this month.
And the striker believes the resumption of hostilities after the winter break can prove exactly the same for the until-now struggling Dark Blues.
Having been playing his football just yards away during the first half of the season, the 29-year-old is well aware of the troubles his new team have gone through.
But since he’s been in the door at Dens Park, he’s admits he’s been impressed by his new team-mates and, more importantly, their determination to turn things round.
“It’s been brilliant since I came in. I’ve enjoyed it, the lads, the training, everything about it has been good,” said the man who is teaming up again with boss Jim McIntyre after their time together at Ross County.
“The fitness levels are really good and the lads are at it. You can see they are up for the fight and there is some really good quality here, there’s no doubt about that, so it’s looking promising.”
And the Liverpudlian believes three weeks off has given Dundee the chance to recharge their batteries.
“I think the break has been a good thing, mentally in particular. I’ve been in this position and sometimes when you are in that rut when you are finding it difficult to pick up points it’s nice to have that break.
“Mentally and physically you get away from it and then you come back in like it’s almost a new season, so I think it has been welcome.
“And the mood here has been good but I don’t think I’ve been surprised by that because the lads know there is enough here and we are adding a few more bodies, so we know we have what’s needed.
“We are up for a fight and you can see that looking round.”
Curran believes that willingness, starting with tomorrow’s cup-tie, to do whatever it takes to get wins will be vital in the coming weeks.
“There are times when it’s not going to be pretty because of where we’re at. There is going to be that sense of anxiousness going into games but we have that hunger and drive to overcome that.
“There might be games that are ugly but these are ones we need to make sure we go on and win.
“Whether we scrap it out 1-0 or 2-0, we have to win and, once we do, we can then go and play a bit like I know we are capable of.”
If, on paper, Dundee have been handed the perfect opportunity to report back with a win by being paired with a side from the second tier, Curran knows they’ll have to perform to make the next round.
His time at Tannadice taught him there are decent outfits in that division and, after facing them twice, he puts Queens in that category.
“This is not going to be an easy game, just because they are in the Championship, no one can think that.
“They have boys who are good players – Stephen Dobbie is on fire right now with his goals.
“So, the mentality is the one thing we have to make sure is right and that’s not something I think we have an issue with. We have to make sure we come out on top, that’s our aim.”
Curran also took the opportunity to stress he left United on good terms and thanked Tangerines boss Robbie Neilson for allowing him to move early in the January window.
“I had a good relationship with Robbie and I only have good things to say about him.
“The style he wanted was to play with one striker and Pavol Safranko has been the best player at United by a margin, I feel.
“I understood that and he understood what an opportunity this move was for me.”
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