Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths has warned his team-mates not to underestimate opponents Stenhousemuir in Tuesday night’s Alba Challenge Cup second-round clash at Ochilview.
On paper, the cup holders would appear to be firm favourites to reach the next stage.
However, Griffiths has experience of the artificial surface at the home of the Warriors and does not believe victory is in the bag.
He said, “I played on the Astroturf there twice when I was at Livingston against East Stirling.
“On both occasions they took us to extra time so it just goes to show that you can never take anything for granted.
“If it requires extra time then so be it, but hopefully we can do it over the 90 minutes.”
He added, “We know it is going to be tough as they will be compact and really up for the game.
“But we just have to try and do our job to get into the next round.”Making amendsGriffiths, Dundee’s top scorer last season, is still annoyed at missing a gilt-edged chance against Queen of the South in the league on Saturday so wants to make amends.
“I am hoping to make up for that one,” he said.
“Hopefully, if another opportunity comes my way I won’t make the same mistake again.” He added, “It is one of our top priorities to win this cup again.
“It was a great day beating Inverness in last season’s final so a repeat is what we are aiming for.”
Meanwhile, striker Mickael Antoine-Curier will see a specialist in a bid to get fit again.
The French forward missed Saturday’s opening-day league win over Queens having injured the cartilage in his knee in training after returning from visiting his ill father in France.
Now the Dark Blues are anxiously awaiting the results of tests to see whether Antoine-Curier, the subject of a summer bid by SPL outfit Hamilton which was kicked out by the Dens club, can return to leading the line.Antoine-Curier’s fitnessBoss Gordon Chisholm said, “Mickael has gone to see a specialist about the knock he picked up in training on Friday.
“That is why he is on crutches and the physio has had a look at him and noticed there is a wee bit of swelling.
“We will know more after he has visited the specialist but it has obviously been frustrating because he has been having a tough time of it recently but there’s not that much we can do.”
Muir’s former Dundee striker Simon Lynch is facing a race to be fit.
He has yet to feature for John Coughlin’s side this season following his summer move from East Stirling.
“We had hoped that Simon would have been involved against Peterhead at some stage on Saturday but he never made it,” said Coughlin.
“My fingers are crossed that he can be included in this game.”
No matter the personnel available, Coughlin has pledged to attack the Dark Blues, adding, “I will make a couple of changes to the line-up after the Peterhead game but our aim will be to try and play open, attractive football against them and see where that takes us.”