Jim still has options he rates highly available to him, but knows, at this stage of the campaign, having players who have seen and done it before can be a huge asset.

“In Lee and Brent you are talking about two international centre-halves, who have played in very big games and who you know can handle these kind of occasions,” he said today.

“When I look at my defence without them, I see players like Callum Macdonald and Bobby Mann, who I know are talented players but who don’t have that kind of experience, and although it is not something that is particularly worrying me, it is something you think about.

“Of course, it can work for you and, if you look at United, they have had to use the young boy Garry Kenneth because of injuries to Lee Mair and David McCracken, and he’s come in and handled big games.”

Despite his concerns, Jim has made it clear he will not take chances on Sancho’s fitness. The player himself believes he is on course to play, but, with him still absent from training this morning, the coaching staff have their doubts.

“We are getting to the stage where you want to know your team and, if a player is still not training by this time of the week, he has to be a big doubt.

“And this is a game for players who are 100% fit and not one where you want someone coming off injured during it. Over the last few weeks, that has happened to us and there is no question it causes disruption.

“It’s not a problem if you are Jose Mourinho, but, when you have limited resources like we do, you do not want to be chopping and changing your formation.”

With little over 600 tickets left and sales continuing to be brisk, the derby remains on course to be a sell-out. United’s allocation was sold out days ago and, today, only home briefs for the Bobby Cox and Main Stands were remaining.

The ticket office at Dundee Direct remained open until 6 pm tonight and will open up again at 9.30 am tomorrow. Sales will continue until noon on Saturday if need be, though officials at Dens expect the sold out signs to go up some time tomorrow.

Dee 4 Life members have been reminded their pre-match function on Saturday will be in the Dundee Social Club in Thistle Street and not at Dens itself. The event is open to over-18s only and doors open at noon.

“I’m hopeful they will make it and what I would like now is a fit squad with everyone working together for the rest of the season,” he said.

“However, in Derek’s case, it has been nine days now that he has not been training normally, so he might have a wee bit to go and we will see if either of them suffer any reaction.”

Whether it is from the start or on the bench, Gordon admitted he would dearly love to have Scotland’s pace in his armoury for the weekend.

“Jason is a good player who can turn a game and he has shown that recently. It was his goal that won the semi-final when he came on at Hampden, and having him ready for this one would be a boost.”

United’s other doubt is defender David McCracken, who has had time off following a family bereavement.

Meanwhile, there will be action at Tannadice on Monday afternoon, when the inaugural Neil Glen Memorial Tournament, a seven-a-side schools competition in honour of the former ArabTRUST chairman, who died last year, will be held.

The event has been organised jointly by United, ArabTRUST and local authority education sports co-ordinators. Neil was formerly a Dundee City councillor.

Primary schools taking part will be Ancrum Road, Blackness, Brackens, Craigiebarns, Macalpine, Mid Craigie and Mill of Mains from Dundee, Leuchars and Newport from north-east Fife, and Inchture from Perthshire.

Games will be played simultaneously on two pitches across Tannadice, with schools being split into two leagues of five teams with the league winners meeting each other in the final at 4 pm.

There will also be an exhibition game between Dave Bowman’s DUFC All Stars XI. and Scottish Ladies’ League Cup holders Forfar Farmington LFC on the full pitch prior to the final tie in the competition. The tournament will kick-off at 1 pm, while the exhibition match could start around 3.30.

United have agreed to a request from ArabTRUST to set aside a small number of cup final tickets, mainly for the benefit of those out-of-town or exiled trust members who have been unable to qualify for priority schemes.

The £25 West Stand briefs will be limited to two per member. Postal applications only will be accepted and should be sent to ArabTRUST, PO Box 10053, Dundee, DD3 6YX, together with a cheque made payable to Dundee United Football Club and quoting Trust membership number.

Tickets will be posted to the address held by the Trust to enable the club to be sure that briefs do not end up in the wrong hands.

“If any fans want to bring musical instruments along, that are acceptable to the club and the police, we would be happy to have them play if it roused up the rest of the crowd into giving us more vocal support,” Geoff commented.

Meanwhile, the chairman also revealed the club have pulled out of the Reserve League (East), but will play friendlies to keep their fringe players and youngsters ticking over.

And the club are to weave the names of all their season ticket holders into their new away top. The names will be imprinted on a fabric and interwoven into the top.