If Dundee are to be relegated, Dens boss John Brown is insisting they will go down fighting.
The Dark Blues are sitting rock bottom of the SPL, 13 points behind St Mirren, who they face on Saturday in Paisley.
With just five games of the season remaining, anything less than a victory against Danny Lennon’s side would consign Dundee to the drop.
That is something Brown refuses to contemplate and he is determined that his players will delay the inevitable for at least another week.
Brown said: “It’s still in our own hands. If St Mirren are going to beat us, then they’ll have to be at their very best.
“We know what’s at stake and we desperately want to keep things going for another week at least. This will be about bottle from our guys and you find out more about your players in these kind of situations.
“And since I came in they have proved they’re willing to fight and scrap for everything, so are relishing this game,” he went on.
“St Mirren did brilliantly to win the League Cup recently but we’re only thinking of ourselves and what we can do this weekend.”
The Dark Blues will have skipper Gary Irvine available again after the defender served a two-match suspension following his red card in the last derby against Dundee United when he was involved in a clumsy challenge against Richie Ryan.
Brown felt the dismissal was harsh but he does not want Irvine to rein in his competitive edge.
The manager added: “It will be good to have Gary back.
“I felt the sending-off against United was a bit harsh and he’s served his punishment. But Gary is fully committed to the cause so he shouldn’t change that at all as that’s what football is all about.
“He’s an experienced player who gives us options and adds to the competition for places at the back.”
Meanwhile, Dundee fans intending to travel to Paisley are reminded that they must purchase a ticket at St Mirren’s ground before gaining entry to this fixture.