| Visiting Saints, meanwhile, have seen their preparations badly hit by illness and injury, but Owen Coyle will bring his team to the City of Discovery in search of three points.
At Dens, Alan has not forgotten the weak display at Airdrie United a fortnight ago and, had Stuart McCluskey and Adrian Madaschi been fit, they would have returned to bolster a defence that leaked four goals that afternoon.
Achilles trouble means McCluskey has just failed to make it, while Madaschi’s groin problem is proving slow to clear, restricting the alterations the manager can make at the back.
“There will be changes, but not of the scale I would have liked. That means some people will be getting another chance and I want to see them use it,” said the Dens gaffer today.
“I want to see a bit of grit and determination, because that is what we need right now and it is what usually matters in tight derby matches.”
A run of just one win in the last eight league games has seen the Dark Blues drop 10 points off the pace and they trail tomorrow’s opponents by eight points.
With Saints and Hamilton to visit Dens in the space of four days, Alan knows his team can haul themselves back into the thick of the promotion race, but his priority right now is simply to start winning.
“It would be great if we won both these games and, because of the way things have been in this league, the chance is still there for us to get back up among the leaders,” he added.
“However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself and all I am looking at is this game and trying to win. You don’t like there being a gap and, whether it is three points or 15, it will always be too big if you are not winning and that is what we have to start doing.
“The way things are, we are going to need a run of four or five wins to get up near the top, but, in terms of ability, that is definitely something we’re capable of.”
While injury has restricted his options at the back, he does have his three main strikers fit and will have to perm two from three.
“Steven Craig has done a full week’s training so he is ready, but I have not made up my mind if he will start. Tam McManus has looked lively all week and, in Simon Lynch, you are talking our top scorer, so it is a difficult choice.”
In Perth, the focus has been on who will recover in time. Two definite absentees from recent selections are Jason Scotland — like home keeper Kelvin Jack away on World Cup duty with Trinidad — and the suspended Simon Mensing.
Also, on top of long-term absentees Mark Campbell, Kieran McAnespie, Kevin Fotheringham and Peter MacDonald, the likes of central defensive pairing Kevin James and Kevin Rutkiewicz are lingering doubts, though it would be a surprise if they don’t make it.
Despite that, the manager is looking for the win that will at least keep the pressure on division leaders St Mirren and could even see his team edge ahead.
“We want three points and that’s what we will be endeavouring to get. We are monitoring those who are in the doubtful category and we’ll give them every chance of proving their fitness, but it is a case of wait and see as regards who will be available,” said Owen, who is out with a broken toe.
“It’s a derby, and these are the sort of games you want to play in. The occasion will take care of itself.”
Fans are reminded kick-off is at 1 pm tomorrow and prices have been slashed for under-12s to £4. |
