When the side’s last met at Forthbank a little under two months ago, Samson was a virtual spectator as his team-mates blasted in six goals at the other end.

Not only, however, does he feel talk of a repeat is disrespectful to Albion, he just can’t see why it should be part of the game plan.

“It isn’t right for anyone to be saying we’ll score loads of goals tomorrow and we’ll give Stirling more respect than that,” he said.

“The main thing for me is not the respect, but the fact that the way the league has worked out, it is very hard to see the race between ourselves and Hamilton coming down to goal difference.

“We are trying to catch them and it’s going to be points we need to do that, so the games now are about making sure we win.

“There is no way we are going to go gung ho looking for loads of goals and leave ourselves open at the back. We’ve prepared for this game properly and we’ll have the right approach.”

If business has been taken care of, the first thing the players will do when they come off is ask for Hamilton’s score away to Livingston and Samson insists there is still a belief at Dens that they can catch the top team.

“Our main concern is focusing on our games and, if we win this one, there is another very hard one to follow at QOS next week.

“Hamilton have hard games too and, in Livingston and then Clyde, they will be facing teams who are fighting for their lives.

“The feeling here is definitely that we are in with a chance of taking it to the last day against them at Dens and we have to make sure we do our bit by keeping winning.

“If we do, and Hamilton win their next two games to go up before the last game here, then good luck to them.”

Like his goalie, the only number boss Alex Rae is interested in is three, the number of points he wants his men to pick up.

“Like every other game just now, it is about winning and nothing else. We have won seven of our last nine and we need to make it eight out of 10,” he said.

“That’s not bad going and, if we keep winning between now and the end of the season and do not go up, it will be because another team’s been on an exceptional run as well.”

His team selection will be along similar lines to last week at Morton, with the only possible change being to find a place in the starting line up for Derek Lyle. And Scott Robertson has made the squad a week earlier than expected.

Since United last tasted European football in 2005, UEFA have raised the minimum standards for stadium lighting, but that is something the Tannadice board are very well aware of.

The cost of the necessary work to improve the floodlights is being identified.

Work has been pencilled in to start shortly after the season ends — should third place be secured.

“We are aware that the UEFA lux requirements are now higher than those of the Scottish Premier League and the matter is being addressed,” commented a Dundee United club spokesman.

“Both are still carrying knocks and are doubtful. They are, however, improving all the time and I haven’t ruled them out,” said Saints’ team boss Derek McInnes.

Long term casualties Kevin James, Martin Hardie and Daniel McBreen have trained all week and also came through the reserve win over East Fife.

They are in the squad and in Derek’s thoughts, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll start or be on the substitutes’ bench.

Saints have another reserve match fixed up, against Livingston next week at a venue still to be decided, and this will give the trio a further chance of match practice.

Although Saints’ chance of elevation to the SPL has gone, Derek wants to finish with as many points as possible and, with Saints only suffering one defeat at home this season, they are keen to keep that good record going.

Morton, who Derek spent nine years with as a player, are in the fight to escape the drop to the Second Division, so the McDiarmid Park outfit know they’re in for a tough game.

Gary Irvine will again be in the thick of the action for the home side.

The former Celtic and Ross County full-back or midfield man has been a fixture in Saints’ side this season and Derek is pleased with the way he’s progressing.

“At Celtic, he was playing mostly reserve football but now he’s stepped up from that to the First Division with us and done well,” said Derek.

GREG MISSES OUT

Dunfermline take on Clyde at home tomorrow and, like Saints, they know they’re in for a hard game against another side battling to beat the drop.

Out of the Pars’ line-up is defender Greg Shields who looks like missing the remainder of the season with a calf strain.

Dunfermline team boss Jim McIntyre is urging his side to “do as well as you can”.

His first match as boss of the Pars was at home against Clyde in December when the match finished 1-1 — and Jim is trusting for better tomorrow.