“A lot of people dismissed that game, but, for me, it was definitely a worthwhile exercise,” said Conway.

“From a practical point of view, it came at a time when I needed a game and getting 80 minutes helped my match fitness.

“It was also a great feeling to get my first cap and getting called into the squad was a real wake-up call for me.

“It showed that George Burley has been having a look at me and gave me a taste of what I can be involved in if I am playing well on a consistent basis.”

And, both personally and collectively, Conway believes consistency will be the key to United’s results in the coming months.

“As a winger, I am used to being labelled inconsistent and it’s something I have been working on. With each year, I think I am improving and I aim to keep that going.

“Looking at the team, we have shown over the past two weekends how well we can play. At Aberdeen, a couple of weeks ago, we did very well and got a good result.

“Before the game against Rangers was abandoned on Sunday, we were probably playing our best football of the season so far. We were a goal down when it went off at half-time, but all the boys were confident of turning that around.

“In between those games, we went out of the cup at St Johnstone and did not play well, and that’s what we’ve got to cut out.”

Inconsistency has been a problem for tomorrow’s opponents and, while that makes this Rugby Park clash difficult to predict, there is no hiding United’s confidence going into the game.

“I know it was only for 45 minutes, but, if we can take Sunday’s form into this game, we have to believe we have a decent chance of doing well,” added Conway.

United’s big selection worry for tomorrow is Argentine striker Damian Casalinuovo, who has done little training this week because of a tight hamstring.

“We are hoping he will make it, but hamstrings can be a bit dodgy and I don’t want to play him and risk an injury that could keep him out for a few weeks,” said boss Craig Levein.

“He’s done a bit of work now and it is a case of seeing if he suffers any reaction — if he does, he has no chance of playing.”

With Francisco Sandaza still a long-term absentee and Jon Daly and Kevin Smith some way away from match fitness, Casalinuovo’s injury could leave United short on numbers, but not quality.

“Danny Cadamarteri was on the bench against Rangers, so he can come in alongside David Goodwillie and the quality is not going to be affected.

“Damian has been doing well, though, so I would like to have him available to give me more options.”

That means, as the game has loomed, he’s become used to taking a good bit of flak — and it’s not always been friendly.

“People know I play for Dundee, so this game’s been mentioned a few times and I wouldn’t say what’s been said has always just been banter,” said Higgins.

“I’ve just taken it in my stride, though, because it’s part of football and you just put up with it.”

The 25-year-old is also well aware this is a fixture that will be going down on almost every coupon as a home win.

In the league, Dundee have failed to win just one of their six Dens outings, while, on the road, the Diamonds have picked up just one solitary point to date.

However short the odds on three points staying on the east coast, though, he refuses to take anything as read.

“We can’t take Airdrie for granted, no-one can, because Kenny Black has them very well organised. We found it very difficult against them down there at the start of the season and they won’t make things any easier here.

“It’s up to us to break them down and, the way we have been picking up points at home, we have to believe we can do that.”

The onus will be on the attack and the fact there will be four proven strikers available to the manager are, Higgins believes, a huge plus for boss Jocky Scott.

The choice available to him means the manager can use any two from Higgins, Leigh Griffiths, Colin McMenamin and Pat Clarke, and the feeling is that spells bad news for opposition defences.

“Being able to use four of us is a big help to the team and I think the fact we are all different in styles is as well,” added Higgins.

“Obviously, we all want to be on from the start, but we know that, whether it’s for 90 minutes or 20 minutes at the end, we have to be ready to do our bit, and the fact we can bring players on who can get goals gives teams a problem.”

The manager, meanwhile, has warned, despite their lowly league position, Airdrie are an improving side.

“Kenny Black put together a team for the Second Division over the summer and had to let maybe half-a-dozen players go,” said Jocky.

“Then he found himself back in the First Division and it maybe took his team a bit of time to adjust. They are getting used to the better standard now, though, and last week played very well in beating Ayr.

“That, and their record against us last season, means we know we are in for a hard 90 minutes.”

Eric Paton and Gary Harkins, laid low by the bug at the beginning of the week, are both fine and will be in their usual places.

Definitely out injured are Euan McLean, Stuart McCaffrey, Steven Milne and Andy Jackson, and there are injury doubts hanging over Steven Anderson and Collin Samuel.

Samuel resumed training yesterday and Anderson worked out today, and both will be given every chance of proving their fitness.

Jonatan Johansson will have a protective bandage on the head wound he received against Falkirk and which required 12 stitches.

As he counted down to tomorrow’s kick-off, Saints boss Derek McInnes commented, “I’m pleased with the way we’re playing, but want more points on the board.

“Tomorrow’s game is our final one of the first quarter and I want to end it with a good result to give us a platform for the second quarter.

“We take confidence from our last two results and it would be great to go to Aberdeen and get something.”