Dundee defender Davide Grassi has spoken of his anger at being written off as relegation certainties.
Going into the home game against St Mirren, the Dark Blues are cast adrift at the foot of the table with just 10 matches of their season remaining.
Time is running out if they are to pull off what would surely be one of the greatest escapes in the history of the SPL.
Staying up may look an unlikely outcome for John Brown’s boys but Grassi is still furious that the club’s fate is already considered to be sealed by many.
“It makes me angry when I hear people saying we are relegated,” he said.
“That’s how football works and a lot of people speak like that. But it gives me extra motivation. People can say what they like but we want to prove them wrong.”
The Dens men will have to pick themselves up for this latest league challenge in the wake of their disappointing derby loss to Dundee United in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
Despite a decent display they fell once again to their rivals, a frustrating outcome for all connected to the club.
Grassi said: “We’re still disappointed from the fact we went out the cup to Dundee United.
“I thought we played well but we lost so we are gutted about that. Now we have to turn our attentions back to the league and this is another chance for us to try and make up some ground.”
On a personal level, the United clash marked a return to action for the 27-year-old Italian after a long spell on the sidelines caused by a knee injury.
Grassi said: “I feel good. I was happy to make my comeback in such a big game as the United one.
“There was a great atmosphere and that’s the kind of match every player wants to play in.”
Grassi is likely to keep his place in the Dundee backline, with Declan Gallagher suspended.