Recent results, culminating in Saturday’s Scottish Cup exit against Raith Rovers, suggest they’ll need a much-improved performance to do that.

Despite the troubles, Klimpl believes it is on the cards and his painful memories tell him anything else is unthinkable.

“In 2002, I was with Viktoria Zizkov in the Czech league and we lost the title on the final day. The goal that decided it was only three minutes from the end — it was a bad experience,” said the 29-year-old.

“I think that means I can say I have been in a position like this where the league is close for us. I do not want to miss out again.”

To make sure, he believes it’s vital both players and fans focus on what lies ahead instead of dwelling on the past.

With 11 games left, Klimpl knows Dundee have time to regain the form that took them to the top of the table in December and re-establish a commanding lead.

“The last couple of games have not been good for us, but they are gone and there is nothing we can do about them.

“Now we must look ahead and be positive. We are still in a good position at the top of our league and it is up to us to get the results.

“No-one should be panicking and, while you can never say what is ahead, there is still confidence among us we can do what we need to.”

After a clear-the-air meeting in the wake of the Raith loss, boss Jocky Scott is looking for a big reaction.

“The players turned up on Monday despondent and disappointed, which is what you’d expect,” he said.

“We had a chat and they aired their views, which is never a bad thing. Hopefully, something comes out of the meeting and they show that at Ayr.”

With the Honest Men enjoying a five-game unbeaten league run in their fight for survival, Jocky knows this will be a test for his team.

“They are having a decent spell and they’ve picked up a few points lately. I saw them myself last week and I thought they played very well in winning 1-0 over Partick.

“They work hard and the first thing we have to do is match them for effort. If we do that and then get the ball down and pass it like we can, we’ll have a right good chance.”

What won’t be acceptable is another start like Saturday, when two goals were conceded in an opening nine minutes that decided the tie.

“We’ve got to use Saturday as a wake-up call and make sure what happened to us does not happen in any of the remaining games,” added the gaffer.

“We have to be at it right from the first kick.”

His progress, though, has been quicker than expected and, by the beginning of next week, he could be back in full training.

Gaffer Peter Houston, however, has stopped short of including him in his plans for the big cup-tie.

“It’s the same as when he turned the other ankle a wee while back — we thought it would take a few weeks to get him back, but he is coming on quickly,” said Houstie.

“He won’t be ready for Aberdeen on Saturday, but, right now, I’d say there could be a chance he will be OK by the middle of next week.”

Also on the comeback trail is striker Danny Cadamarteri. He is back running after suffering a torn calf muscle that has sidelined him since January.

Meanwhile, the SPL split has been delayed by four days because of either United or Rangers’ involvement in the Scottish Cup semi-finals next month.

With one of the two certain to be in the last four, their league meeting at Tannadice, originally scheduled for April 10, has been put back to the following Wednesday evening and will be televised live on Sky.

The quarter-final replay between the teams a week tonight means the Tangerines’ visit to face Hibs at Easter Road will now take place on March 31.

Jackson, who is on loan at Arbroath, is among the injured.

Kevin Moon strained a medial ligament against the Dons and is definitely out at the weekend, while last night’s goal-hero Cillian Sheridan is unavailable due to the terms of his loan agreement from the Hoops.

Of the 10 who missed out last night, Gartland, Davidson and Milne have the best chance of being fit for Saturday.