“Barry came through training fine and is OK, and Mark’s suspension was only for the cup, so I’ll have them in and that’s a boost to us because they have been doing well,” confirmed Ian.

Defender David McCracken will also be in his usual place after recovering from the head knock that forced him off at East End Park.

Still missing, though, will be experienced pair Chris Innes, at the back, and influential striker Jim McIntyre, whose calf strain will need at least another week to heal properly.

“Chris’ groin suffered a reaction in training and we’ve pulled him out. We don’t think it is too serious and, in another week, he should be OK,” added the manager.

“These two have been important players for us and there is no question not having them is a big loss.”

Even so, and despite disappointment at exiting the cup at Dunfermline, Ian is looking for a good performance and three points tomorrow.

“We have all forgotten about the cup now and we are looking to get back to the kind of form we have shown over the last six or seven league games.

“With the exception of the second half at Motherwell a fortnight ago, we have been playing well, and at home we’ve had two wins and a draw in our last three games.

“Our form right now puts us at about fourth in the table, but, if we are going to get to the top six, we have to maintain it because our start was so poor.”

Ian is still looking at strengthening his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, but expects no developments before tomorrow.

Likewise, Aberdeen manager Steve Paterson’s attempts to bring in a striker, which seem to have been centred on Dundee’s attack, have been without success so far.

The Dons are still admitting to an interest in Steve Lovell, but have scrapped plans to move for Nacho Novo because he is way out of their price league. The same almost certainly applies in Lovell’s case, but so far Paterson is not conceding defeat.

With a large away support expected at Tannadice, Aberdeen fans will be housed in the Shed as well as the main and Fair Play stands.

That has not gone down well with Dundee fans, many of whom have accused the SPL’s basement club of acting out of self-interest, because they would be the outfit that benefited most from such a penalty.

Jim, a former Jag and who was born just a stone’s throw from their ground, has stayed out of such arguments when possible and wants his players to do the same.

“I never speak to the players about that kind of thing, so I don’t really know whether or not it will be an issue with them,” he said today.

“For me, the most important thing is to concentrate on your own club, take care of your own business and let people elsewhere do the same thing at theirs.

“That should be the same for the players and their job is to focus on playing and trying to win matches. Like everyone, they can have their opinions about what happens off the pitch, but when it comes to a game all they should be thinking about is what happens on it.

“I’m sure that will be the case and that is the way I want it.”

The Dens boss has also admitted that he is slightly bemused by the media hype surrounding this fixture. It is second-bottom against bottom, but he points to the size of the gap between the teams and, despite failing to win in the league since Thistle visited in October, his sights are still on finishing further up the table.

“It’s one of these situations where it is good for the Press to hype up the game, but if it was at the top of the table and there was a nine-point gap, everyone would be saying the league was over.

“It’s going to be very tough through there, but that’s not due to league positions, it’s because it is always a hard place to visit.”

On the injury front, defender Brent Sancho again remains doubtful, so chances are Dundee will go with the same side who started at Aberdeen last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Dundee have confirmed they have made an unsuccessful attempt to land Raith Rovers’ John Sutton on loan for the rest of the season.

Thistle will have ex-Dens man Jamie Langfield in goal. He signed up for the Jags late yesterday and will take over from Kenny Arthur, who pulled a hamstring last week.