Barry Smith is hoping Dundee will become the latest SPL team to turn their season around after an international break.
St Johnstone haven’t dropped a point since the last pause in the campaign, while Friday night’s opponents Inverness Caley Thistle are unbeaten over the same period.
A free weekend wasn’t what Barry Smith would necessarily have chosen after their defeat to Hibs, but he’s seen the break work for others and it could now be the Dark Blues’ turn.
He said: ”I would agree with the fact that things can change quickly in this league. It’s amazing what a couple of results does for confidence.
”Hopefully we can come out of this break stronger. Inverness have shown how things can change. You’re looking on the one result to change things for you and then capitalise on it.
”We’re not thinking about a run at the moment, just Friday’s game. We’ve been working as much as we can on the things we want to get better at.
”After a defeat we wanted to go straight back in and rectify it, but hopefully the fact that we’ve had to wait even longer than usual will make them even more desperate to win on Friday. We want all their frustration and anger to come out in the game.”
Defender Brian Easton certainly thinks this is the ideal opportunity to kick-start their season.
”It is going to be a tough game but it is also one we think gives us a chance to pick up some points,” said Easton, who made his first start for the Dens men last time out at Hibs.
”We are at home and should be looking for the win, even if it is against a side that has been in form. As long as we can cut out the silly mistakes and be more clinical then we can win the match.”
Caley Thistle will be without inspirational captain Richie Foran due to a knee injury.
However it has emerged that the 32-year-old will not require surgery which, it was feared, could have ruled the player out for months rather than weeks.