If First Division leaders Hamilton win at home to lowly Clyde, they will be promoted, but, if they slip up and Dundee win, the issue will be decided in a last-day showdown between the top two at Dens Park next week.

Alex, though, wants his players to do their best to ignore all the permutations and simply concentrate on doing something they’ve found extremely difficult in the past — pick up three points at Palmerston.

And he does not believe their task has been made any easier by the Doonhamers’ cup heroics.

“People always think league games can be a distraction for players when they reach a cup final, but, for me, they are a chance for them to show their manager they are playing well and should be in for the final,” he said.

“It’s a few weeks until they are back at Hampden, but they have only got two competitive games to go before the final and that does not leave a lot of time for players to show they should be in the team.

“That means this is a hard game for us, but it always is down there and they’ve had a habit of turning us over.”

Since Alex took charge before the start of last season, a solitary league point is all that has been earned from four league and cup visits to Dumfries, but that record will not change the mindset for this game.

“We need to win and that is all we will be thinking about, not what’s happened there before or what is happening elsewhere.

“I’m certainly not going to be getting updates from the Hamilton game. There is no point in putting yourself through that kind of agony.

“We’ll be doing our bit first and, if we’ve got a result, we can find out what’s happened at Douglas Park at the end.”

Alex admitted the determination of midfielder Scott Robertson to prove his fitness has left him with a selection dilemma.

Robertson scored against Stirling Albion last Saturday on his return as a substitute after over a month out injured, but, earlier in the week, the manager’s opinion was he would still only be on the bench tomorrow.

“He’s pushed himself very hard in training and shown a lot of endeavour. It’s given me something to think about and I’ll speak to the medical people before I make a decision.”

Definitely back in the reckoning to start is defender David Cowan after he missed out against Stirling with a back muscle problem.

“I really don’t like looking further ahead than the next game, but this week I have been looking at those two together,” he said.

“Right now, I still believe Motherwell are favourites — they are third and have a game in hand on ourselves and Hibs, so they have to be.

“However, if we won on Sunday and then beat Motherwell, we would be in the box seat, although there would still be work to do. That’s not to say we’d be out of it if we did not win both, but it would be a boost if we could take maximum points.”

Those thoughts expressed, it was back to focusing on the next game and Craig is relishing the prospect of a Sunday afternoon in front of the Setanta cameras.

“It has the makings of a very good game and what I am looking for is the players to take the from they were showing before the split and continue it.

“We have been playing very well and, although when it’s like that you don’t usually want a free weekend like we’ve just had, it’s been a busy time for us and I felt the players needed the break.

“I gave them a few days off because they deserved them and they have come back this week looking fresh and the training has been good.”

Missing while they complete suspensions will be central defender Garry Kenneth and midfielder Danny Swanson. However, United were handed a fitness boost this morning when centre-half Darren Dods made an unexpected return to training after being sidelined for the last few weeks with a foot injury.

“He hasn’t done anything since the Rangers game and I didn’t think he’d be able to work with us today, but he managed a full session,” added Craig.

“Now it’s a case of seeing if he suffers any reaction, but I am more hopeful than I was yesterday.”

Should Dods miss out, either Danny Grainger or Mihael Kovacevic will come into the side.

Saints will stay overnight at a hotel as they finish off their preparations for the game.

Kevin James and Daniel McBreen came through the Livingston reserve game on Wednesday and are in the squad. So, too, is Martin Hardie, who has also recently returned to action after a long spell out injured.

Saints are continuing to sell tickets for the game at McDiarmid Park. Today, their office will be open till 5 pm and it will again open on Sunday from 10 am-11 am.

Fans are asked to allow plenty of time for their journey due to roadworks in the Glasgow area.