He said, “We have had a look at the league after Saturday’s results and seen that we can start moving up. We did say after the win over Livingston that we hoped it would kick-start our season and we’d start to climb the table from then.

“We want to get back up to where we feel we can be and, while the most important thing for us is concentrating on getting the three points from the game, it is nice to know that it would do us good in terms of our league position.

“The bottom is still too close, but I think the fans believe the couple of wins we’ve had can be the start of something good and, so long as we make sure our approach is right, we can share that optimism.”

With Caley’s crowds at their rented accommodation for previous midweek matches this term hovering just above the 1000 mark, United can expect an eerie atmosphere at Pittodrie, but Brebner insists it is up to the players to ignore the empty seats and get on with the job in hand.

“I suppose it is down to us to make our own atmosphere and that’s what we will do because this is another very important game for us,” he added.

“No doubt it would have been better for Inverness if they could have played at their own ground and they would have had a few thousand more fans behind them.

“But, from our point of view, we are going to an away game where we could have more fans than the home team and we are not going to complain about that. With them playing at Pittodrie it might mean it’s not the best fixture on the card, but, without wishing to be harsh about it, that makes it one where you just want to go in, do the job, and get out of there.”

Having lost just one of their last five games, Caley full-back Stuart Golabek believes their players will be up for the fight.

He said, “It was frustrating to have the game on Saturday called off, because we’re on a bit of a run and fancy our chances. We have managed to get in front of United and three points would open up a nice little gap. They will come to Pittodrie looking for something because they seem to have turned the corner a wee bit, but we still believe we can beat them.”

And Golabek is looking forward to crossing swords with a former team-mate.

He added, “Barry Robson has been doing well for them and he always had the ability to play in the Premierleague. He did very well for Caley and deserved a move from the First Division.”

United striker James Grady has been linked with a move to Dunfermline during the January transfer window. Grady only signed up from Partick in the summer, but has been in and out of the line-up so far.

With long-term injury victim Lee Wilkie still a month or two away from a comeback, that leaves boss Jim Duffy with just one experienced centre-back — Bobby Mann.

Even Callum Macdonald, who has played in the middle regularly at reserve level, is also carrying the knock that forced him out at the weekend.

And, as the manager pointed out, even if the players return to work in time to be considered for the Celtic game, having them sidelined now is less than ideal.

“As is obvious from the goals we lost last Saturday and at Motherwell the week before, we need to be working hard together to put things right. If players are injured it is very difficult to do that,” he said.

Further forward the injury situation is not much better, with the likes of Iain Anderson, Neil Barrett and Glenn Larsen all not certain to be available.

Once again, however, Jim refused to use the injury list as an excuse for the last few displays.

“We do have more problems than we would like in terms of injures, but that does not change the fact that the way we have defended has not been good enough.

“Three times at Motherwell and twice against Hibs we lost goals from what I would call basic crosses into the box.

“These goals could, and should, have been avoided and were being earlier in the season. We need to get back to the situation where it is hard to score against us.”

Dundee have a limited number of Celtic end tickets available at the club shop.

Meanwhile, the banned Kevin Rutkiewicz misses Saturday’s home game against Clyde and he could be joined on the sidelines by Mark Baxter and Ross Forsyth. Baxter is still not training due to a hamstring injury and Forsyth has a groin problem.

Saints boss John Connolly is still looking to bolster his squad, and said, “In the transfer window, I hope to move two or three in and two or three out.”

Raith are away to Ross County tonight in a First Division fixture and may add Herve Ebanda and Maurice Mendy to their squad. Johnathan Smart has returned to training and could make the bench.