“In the past at this club, there has been a habit of setting this target or that and, if we haven’t fulfilled them, it’s been billed as a major crisis, so I’m happy to agree with the manager’s thinking,” he said.

“It’s been a very good month since he came in and, even in the one game we lost at Dunfermline, I felt we probably played our best football and were a bit unfortunate to go down to a couple of bad goals.

“How we should be regarding the three wins we’ve had is as a platform on which we can build. It’s no more than that and we should not get carried away.”

Stillie admits that calm approach is helped by the prospect of playing a Hibs side who are generally regarded as the best footballing side in the SPL, and who have lost just once in 11 competitive outings on their own turf this term.

“This is definitely the hardest test we’ve faced since the manager came in and Hibs are the form team in the country at the moment,” he said.

“They were unlucky not to beat Celtic on Sunday and they are a side whose forte is definitely to attack. From open play they are dangerous all over the pitch and, this season, I think they’ve even improved at set plays — their defenders are big and pose problems when they come forward.

“We, though, are going in with confidence after the last results and, while I’ll repeat that it’s only a start for us, what the last few results have shown people is that we have a decent set of players here.”

Meanwhile, despite Hibs firing on all cylinders at the moment, United’s manager won’t be setting his team out solely with the intention of trying to hold out for a single point.

And, while much has been said of the Easter Road side in recent weeks, the Tangerines’ recent record stands favourably with any SPL outfit.

“I rate Hibs extremely highly and, along with Celtic, they are probably the in-form team in the country,” said Craig.

“But we certainly won’t be going there with the intention of sitting in soaking up pressure and just defending. To be honest, I’m not at the stage where I would be 100% convinced we’d be able to do that.

“We’ll be looking to ask a few questions of Hibs, have a go and see where it takes us.

“Defensively, this will be our toughest test to date. We’ve been playing quite well and, bizarrely, probably the best we’ve played was against Dunfermline — and we lost.

“But tomorrow will be another test and we have to step up all over the park.”

Defenders David McCracken and Garry Kenneth have both stepped up training following injuries and, provided they suffer no reaction, will be available for selection.

Left-sided wing-back Steven Robb has also returned to full training, although he still remains a couple of weeks away from first-team consideration.

It’s unlikely a loan deal for Lee Wilkie will be concluded before tomorrow’s game. The former Dundee man has been linked with a short-term move to Livingston.

The 18-year-old’s nose now sports a small scar and a bump after he broke it against Gretna last month, but he accepts these are the kind of knocks you have to take in the country’s tightest league.

And he feels last week’s narrow win over Airdrie has proved Dundee can come through battles with the victories needed to force a way into the promotion race.

“My nose is fine now, and it wasn’t displaced so I didn’t need an operation or anything like that. It was sore at the time, but it’s what I’ve come to expect from this division, because there are a lot of hard games,” he said.

“I think we can handle that. People know we can play good football, but fans have had doubts all the way through last season and this season about us grinding out results. However, we showed against Airdrie we can do it.”

Another fighting performance could be required to take the points tomorrow, against a side who Dundee have not even managed a goal against in five previous league meetings.

And McDonald has warned the team from the Highlands are more than just fighters.

“Ross County are not a bad football side. They can be physical, but they also get the ball down and pass it and, when we were up there earlier this season, they did play well.

“We’ve struggled against them. We’ve lost up there and drawn here, and we need to put that right, because we need to be winning consistently.”

On a personal as well as team level, McDonald also wants to add greater consistency to his game.

His form since breaking into the side as a 16-year-old just over a year ago may have attracted regular visits and bids from Celtic, Everton and a string of other big clubs, but he believes there is room for improvement.

“I know myself that it has not been the best — I want to get a run going and be as good as I was last season.

“I know I’m still a young boy and there will be dips, but I’ve got a bit of experience now and I think I can be doing more.”

Meanwhile, as they look to keep among the leading pack, Dens boss Alex Rae is urging his men to show the battling qualities that saw them beat Airdrie last week, but also to be more ruthless in front of goal.

“I thought we played half-decent last week and we created a few chances,” said Alex.

“Bryan Deasley had a good chance early on, Derek Lyle missed one right on half-time and Robert Campbell hit the bar late on, and if these had gone in, it would have put a completely different slant on the game.

“But, when it’s only 1-0, anything can happen.”

The Dark Blues gaffer is also keen to see his men rectify their 1-0 defeat against the Highlanders in October.

“We didn’t play particularly well that day and, in the end, I think it was a fair result. But our form at home hasn’t been too bad and it’s vital we pick up three points tomorrow.”

The manager has options available with midfielder Ross Harris and on-loan striker Brian McGinty recovering from injuries. Andy McLaren misses out as he is suspended.

Meanwhile, Dens chief executive Dave MacKinnon, an advocate for the introduction of SPL2, has warned that Division One clubs face the prospect of having to go part-time unless there is an increase in revenue over the next few years.

He said, “I think every club in the First Division is under pressure and it would be difficult for us to continue for three or four years at a full-time level.

“Hopefully, on the horizon there is an SPL2, because that will certainly bring in additional money to clubs like ourselves — the ones who are in the middle ground, don’t want to go part-time and aspire to be in the Premierleague.”

Goran is hoping to attend his father’s funeral in Macedonia, but paperwork is holding up his departure.

If he still hasn’t left Scotland by tomorrow afternoon, he’s likely to play.

Saints team boss Owen Coyle said, “We’re just having to take this on a daily basis. This has the makings of a great game and it’s a terrific one for us to bounce back after losing to Livingston.

“There will be two very good teams out there, both will be trying to win, so this match has the makings of a cracker.”

Should Hardie fail to make it, Lawson is the likely replacement.

Peter MacDonald would take over in attack if Milne fails to shake off his knock in time.

Saints are taking around 500 fans down to Gretna, with some heading for a lunchtime meal date at a club in Carlisle before heading the few miles back north to take in the game.

After taking just one point from their last three matches, the Perth men are keen to get back on the winning track.

They presently lie six points adrift of league leaders Gretna and don’t want to fall further behind.