Matches between Dundee and Hamilton were a big deal in the Championship last season. But few would have foreseen it would be the same story in the Premiership.
With Accies at the top of the league, and the Dark Blues having made an impressive start to the campaign themselves, Saturday’s Dens Park clash has taken on a bigger than expected profile.
Dundee manager Paul Hartley said: “I don’t think anyone would have predicted at the start of the season that Dundee against Hamilton would be the game of the day. But I think it’s great.
“It’s good for Scottish football because it’s two new teams playing good stuff. That’s what we want to see.”
And Hartley is a big admirer of the job Alex Neil has done in Lanarkshire.
“They’ve shocked a lot of people but they haven’t shocked me,” he said. “They deserve to be at the top of the league just now. They’re not at the top by luck they’re there on merit.
“They’ve had a very good start, obviously. They work hard as a team, and it will be a tough, tough game for us.
“We knew what they were all about. They’ve not changed their team too much from last season. There’s maybe been two or three changes.
“We know we’ll have to be top of our game to get a result on Saturday.”
Hartley admitted that the Hamilton model for producing young talent is one they are looking to emulate at Dens.
“They’ve got one of the best youth systems in the country,” he said.
“We want to get to that level but we’re years behind on that. We’re addressing it and working hard, but it will take time. Nothing will happen overnight.”
Dundee got the better of Hamilton last season in their race for the title, but Hartley doesn’t believe that will matter on Saturday.
“We can’t look back at the games last season because our team’s so different,” he explained. “All we can focus on is what we did last week, and the good things we did against Motherwell.”
James McPake will be back in the Dundee side, and Kevin Thomson is also in with a chance of starting.
Hartley reported: “Jazzer (McPake) is back. He’s had a tough week. It’s great to have him back because he’s probably been our player of the season so far.
“Thommo has trained well and is in contention. Willie (Dyer) has trained as well, but it might be a bit soon for him.
“Luka Tankulic is struggling. He’s got a problem with his foot and will be x-rayed, and Peaso (Peter MacDonald) will be out for weeks with a knee injury.”