The Frenchman, though, could drop out again tonight because his wife was due in hospital today to have a baby.

And that in turn may see Samson back in the position he’s held since Roy was injured early in the campaign.

With Saturday’s front two, scorer Mikael Antoine-Curier and Colin McMenamin, ineligible, there will definitely be changes to the attack.

Dundee are well covered in that department and the strike force is set to be two from Derek Lyle, Bob Davidson and Jani Sturm.

“The forward area is not a problem and we have people who can come in and, I believe, do a job,” said boss Alex Rae.”

Back in defence, although Milan Palenik was red-carded at Livi, his dismissal was for two bookings and that means he is available for the Scottish Cup and will, instead, sit out Saturday’s league clash with Morton.

And the good news for fans who have twice seen this tie postponed because of Motherwell’s dodgy pitch is that the game is certain to go ahead.

Bad news for the players, however, is that despite a large chunk of the surface being re-laid last week, conditions underfoot are reported to still be far from ideal.

Just the news that the game will go ahead was enough to make the Dundee gaffer smile.

“The postponements have been frustrating and we are now just looking forward to getting on with the tie. It will be a difficult test for us, but we will be up for it.”

Motherwell will be minus the injured Chris Porter, while Paul Quinn is suspended.

Boss Craig Levein, though, will add muscles to the midfielder’s ability before he regards him as a 90-minute player.

“Danny has a talent most of us can only dream about and he is the kind of player who gets people out of their seats — he was doing it again on Saturday,” said Craig.

“He is one, though, I am going to be very careful with, and I will not be starting him until I am sure he can cope with the physical nature of the game at this level.

“Right now he is doing very well coming on in games and making an impact, but he would find that more difficult if he was starting when the tempo is higher.

“He is slight and my worry is that would see him targeted and, right now, his body might not cope with that.”

While it will take hard work, Craig knows the 21-year-old can bulk up and he’s been sent to Dundee University to do that.

“We’ve got him on a strength and conditioning programme and that should help him with his physique. Craig Conway went through the same kind of process when he came from Ayr and there has been a big difference in his ability to withstand the physical demands of our league.”

And, while Swanson will again be on the bench when United face St Mirren in their Scottish Cup replay at Tannadice on Wednesday, he can expect involvement in future fixtures.

“As time passes, and Danny gets more and more used to this level, you will see him playing more often and for longer. Up until now, I’ve been happy with his progress.”

United, meanwhile, will complete their preparations for next month’s CIS Cup final against Rangers at a special training camp, but it will not be abroad.

There has been some talk of a sunshine trip funded by millionaire director John Bennett, but that would be for the end of the season and, for the final, the squad will head for a hotel in the west coast.

The club are also aware of Barcelona’s intention to return to St Andrews for pre-season training this summer, though, so far, there has been no word of another Tannadice friendly.

With more than 17,000 United fans expected to head west, many on trains, Network Rail is advising people to plan ahead. A spokesman said, “There is essential resignalling work taking place. Trains will run between Dundee and Glasgow, but will be going via Fife rather than the direct route.

“That’s going to mean an extra 40 minutes to an hour on journeys, so we are advising people to make extra time for the journey.”

The railway works will only exacerbate the clamour for seats on fans’ buses heading through. Fans’ message boards have been flooded with pleas for seats.

United will shortly be announcing details for the sale of cup final tickets. Initially, priority will be given to season ticket holders. There’s also set to be a voucher scheme for two home games running up to tickets going on sale.

Rocco Quinn, on loan from Celtic, is ineligible to play tomorrow as he wasn’t signed in time, but Greg Cameron, on loan from Dundee United, can take part.

Kevin Rutkiewicz is now free of suspension and available and so is Steven Anderson.

Steven can also play against Hamilton at home in the league on Saturday, but he then misses Saints’ next two league matches away to both Morton and Dundee.

Saints have one or two players nursing knocks after the QOS game but it’s nothing serious.