“Obviously, Aberdeen are going to have a big support and we’ll take a good few more up there than we did on Tuesday. I’m really looking forward to it because you want to be playing in front of big crowds,” he said.

“It should be a good game as well, because we feel we are improving and Aberdeen have been doing very well under Jimmy Calderwood this season.

“I can’t say that’s surprised me, because I have always felt they had good players — I thought that last season when maybe injuries hit them at bad times.”

United’s only fresh injury worry for this one, midfielder Barry Robson, has recovered from a groin problem and will start, meaning the team will be along the same lines as Tuesday.

“I’ll sit down, have a think and maybe make a change or two, but there won’t be anything drastic and it is not going to be too far away from the team against Caley.”

For the Dons, winger Chris Clark is the major doubt. Along with midfielder Derek Adams, he suffered a back injury in training yesterday. Boss Jimmy Calderwood admitted the loss of skipper Russell Anderson because of suspension was “a massive blow”.

Meanwhile, at Tannadice today, United legends Jimmy Briggs, Hamish McAlpine, Dave Narey and Dave Bowman joined chairman Eddie Thompson to launch a public appeal for items to be housed in a new Dundee United museum.

Also present was the family of the late Tommy Adamson, who won a runners-up medal in the Emergency War Cup Final of 1940 at Hampden — which was the Scottish Cup Final in all but name and the first time United had reached a major final.

In an early boost to the appeal, the Adamson family have loaned his Final medal, while medals and strips have also been promised from other former players.

“This club has a proud history and colourful local heritage going back to 1909. We wanted to establish a museum to display this history leading up to our centenary in five years time,” said Eddie Thompson.

“It is wonderful that those here today have agreed to lend some of their treasured items for this purpose and we would hope that others will do likewise.

“While we will try to contact many of our former players, this will not be possible in every instance and we are, therefore, making this public appeal to ex-players or employees, or their families, to contact us if they have any items which they would wish to see housed in a Dundee United museum.”

“We’ve had injuries and that’s not made our preparations ideal, but I always feel that if we play the way we can, we can compete with even the Old Firm. That’s what I will be looking for,” he said today.

“Players have to go into the game believing they can do well and being positive. If you go in with negative thoughts you have lost before the game has started and there is no point in turning up.”

Jim admits his men will have to play better than in recent defeats against Hibs and Motherwell if they are to have any chance against the Hoops and believes the key to that will lie in not giving away soft goals.

“What we have to get back to at the least is making teams work hard to get anything against us. Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to play open, attractive football, but the first thing you have to do is make sure you are hard to beat.

“We have not done that in the last couple of games and, although we have played well for spells, we’ve been leaving ourselves with too much to do.

“To change that, we have to defend better, but it is not just a case of looking at the back four. We’ve got to do better as a team and one thing we have to do is make it harder for teams to get the ball into our box.”

Jim’s biggest problem today was getting 11 fit players on the training pitch so he could work on a game plan.

Leg injuries mean Brent Sancho and Tom Hutchinson have been ruled out, while, although he has been stepping up his work, Callum Macdonald’s place in the squad is still not confirmed. On the plus side, Iain Anderson, Steven Robb and Glenn Larsen should return.

Celtic will be without suspended pair Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson and that could give Dundonian Ross Wallace a starting place.

Tickets are still available for both sets of fans and the ticket office at Dens is open from 10 am-5pm tomorrow and on Sunday from 10 am- 11 am.

Supporters’ trust Dee 4 Life will again be collecting at Dens on Sunday, taking in money for raffle tickets, Junior Dee applications, names for their giant banner and selling Christmas cards.

The Andy Penman Lounge will not be available before games again until January 15.

Mark Baxter and Ross Forsyth have recovered from injury and are in the squad, as is new signing Kieran McAnespie.

The latter rejoined Saints this week from Falkirk but, as he was coming into the club, Alan Mahood was moving out to rejoin Morton.

Raith Rovers face Partick Thistle at Stark’s Park and may be able to call upon Darren Brady.

They have been without the influential midfielder since he injured a shoulder in a car accident at the end of October.

Jonathan Smart came through Tuesday’s draw with Ross County following a month’s absence with an ankle injury and will play.

That leaves only Joe McAlpine and Jules Tchimbakala on the sidelines.

Bekar has gone to the Springfield Falcons in the AHL, despite signing for the Stars for the remainder of the season.

However, Lochi has been back training this week after sitting out for several weeks with a dislocated shoulder, and is expected to play.

Stars have two home games this weekend, against Milton Keynes Lightning (Challenge Cup) tomorrow and Guildford Flames (BNL) 24 hours later.

The away leg of the Milton Keynes cup game was abandoned halfway through due to a hole in the ice.

Stars coach Roger Hunt was delighted to have Lochi back, for, what he predicts, will be a difficult weekend.

He said today, “Patric Lochi trained this week and it looks as though he will be playing, so that’s good news.

“Both games will be tough, because we’ve got guys who are just getting back from injury and Lightning and Flames can be pretty hard teams to wear down.

“I’m looking for good performances, just like the one against Sheffield last weekend.

“We should have some of the Scottish National League guys playing for us this weekend, such as Ali Haddanou and Andy Samuel, so that will help bolster the squad.

“Paddy Ward was on the bench last week, but didn’t play. However, we hope to have him back very soon. Chad Reekie is back from illness, too, although he hasn’t been training for about three weeks, so it’ll take some time for him to get back to full fitness.

“Again, I’d just like to thank the fans for getting behind the team over the last few weeks.”

Face-off times this weekend are: tomorrow — 7.30 pm; Sunday — 6.30 pm.