“After the other night we just want the chance to get back out and show what we can really do. We don’t care who we are up against, we just want to put Hamilton behind us as quick as we can,” he said.

“We are all very disappointed because I don’t think we could play any worse than we did. I’d say we could probably be as much as 75% better than we were and Sunday is the chance to show that.”

And, while he would understand if the evidence of New Douglas Park has left Celtic thinking an easy three points are for the taking, he is warning this time United will be fired up.

“The way we played, they might believe it will be easy, but no one is coming to Tannadice and not getting a hard game and we are up for this one.

“Since I’ve been here, if we’ve had a bad game we have bounced straight back and that’s the aim — it doesn’t matter who we are playing.”

Definitely out of the home ranks will be Danny Swanson following his red card against Hamilton in a reserve game on Tuesday.

And, despite the temptation to throw him on from the start, Francisco Sandaza will again be on the bench.

“His muscles do not have the endurance in them the other players have, and I probably should leave him out altogether for a couple of weeks so he can do a pre-season,” said boss Craig Levein.

“When you see his ability, though, that is easier said than done, but I must still be careful not to use him for too long. He definitely isn’t ready to start.”

Likewise, although winger Craig Conway could feature at top team level for the first time since breaking a metatarsal earlier this year, at best he will be among the subs as well.

“It’s not his fitness that is the problem because he has done a lot of running and he’s now had a couple of 90 minutes under his belt,” added Craig.

“He’s still a game away from full sharpness. He’s in my thoughts in terms of the bench.”

While it is still early days, Paton senses a determination within Alex Rae’s squad to stay at the top — and feels the spirit in the camp grew from that stay in Malta last month.

“It was very hot, so we had to train at 8 am and 6 pm to get out of the heat,” he said.

“That made it tough, but we were together for a long time, eating and working. It was good for bonding, you’ve seen that in the spirit shown.”

The doubters will point out that, so far, Dundee have only beaten one side who were in the Second Division last term and another that was close to dropping down there.

As a veteran of this league, Paton talks with authority when he says there are no easy victories.

“This is my seventh season in the First Division and it’s a league where everyone is capable of beating everyone else. Every win is hard-earned, so you can take confidence from winning your first two games.”

Another testing 90 minutes is expected, but this is a game Paton has set his sights on winning.

“We won’t hide what our aim is for the season, it is to win this league and, without any disrespect to them, this in the kind of game we have to be looking to take the points from.”

Alex Rae and assistant Davie Farrell were at New Broomfield last night when a near waterlogged surface threatened to see the QOS- FC Nordsjaelland UEFA Cup tie called off.

While tomorrow’s game against the usual tenants is not in any big doubt, Alex has concerns over conditions.

“The pitch didn’t cut up, but there was a lot of surface water and it’s going to be very heavy,” he said.

“Whatever the conditions, we know it won’t be an easy game. I’ve seen them and they give all they’ve got.”

Both are desperate to get back into the SPL and, even at this early stage, a win is vital.

Saints’ injuries are clearing, but Dunfermline are likely to be without hamstring strain victim Scott Thomson and also Steven Bell who is lacking match practice following his knee operation.

However, Kevin Harper, who has also been suffering a hamstring strain, looks like being in contention.

Alan Main, Steven Anderson and Collin Samuel are fit again and could be in the home line-up. Saints absentees are Jody Morris and Kevin Moon, who are still on the injured list.

The Perth men look certain to have Kevin James back at the heart of their defence. The towering central defender is in his 17th season as a professional and, despite a number of injuries over the past few seasons, states he’s “feeling fine.”

He added, “I had a minor groin strain a few weeks ago, but it has cleared up.

“The chairman has allowed the manager to spend, so the pressure is on us to deliver promotion. That’s a real challenge and a pressure we enjoy.

“Finishing top is definitely what we’re aiming for and tough games like tomorrow’s are ones we need to win.

“Winning our opening league match at home to Livi was a great boost and it kept our good home record going. Only Clyde beat us at McDiarmid in league and cup last season and, the season before, only Livi were able to do that. We’ve made McDiarmid a fortress and want to keep it that way.”

Saints have two players on international duty next week. Keeper Euan McLean is with the Scotland U/21s in Lithuania and striker Andy Jackson is with the Republic of Ireland U/21s in Austria.