Chis got the nod, leaving many feeling the volatile McCall would have a point to prove when his Jags face the Dark Blues this weekend.

The Dens boss, though, does not view things quite like that.

“When you face one of Ian’s teams, he is always a factor, but that’s only because he is desperate to win every game he’s involved in and this will be no different,” said Gordon.

“He will be professional, like he always is, and he will not let what happened affect him.

“Thistle have had a wee sticky spell in terms of results and Ian will be desperate to win to halt that and try to get them finishing the season on a high.

“Since I’ve come here, I have noticed teams tend to raise their games against us, but that’s a player thing and something we have to cope with every week.”

Of greater concern to the gaffer is who he’ll have available for the Glasgow trip.

While the rest of the players were off yesterday, injured duo Eric Paton and Gary Harkins did some training and were increasing the intensity today.

“We’ll see how they come along and if they suffer any reaction, but I’m still a bit worried Saturday is going to come too early for them.”

Fringe striker Pat Clarke has been added to the list of doubts after he took a head knock in a closed-door game against St Johnstone on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Rab Douglas, meanwhile, has successfully come through the surgery on both knees that’s ended his season.

Queens, in particular, were given no chance when they faced Aberdeen at this stage two years ago, but won a Hampden classic 4-3. Veteran defender Dods believes shocks like that mean there will be no complacency in the United ranks.

“To be honest, ours isn’t a squad that needs to be warned about under-estimating teams, because every time we go on the park we work very hard and Sunday will be no different,” he said.

“It does not do any harm to remember what can happen if you are not at your best, and the memory of Queen of the South’s win over Aberdeen tells us we can’t take it easy. They were great that day and, if we allow Raith to play, we know they are capable of getting a result.

“To be fair to them, you just look at their cup run this season and it tells you they are a decent team.

“To have gone up to Aberdeen and won a replay and then beaten Dundee at Dens when they were underdogs both times, means they deserve respect and they will get it.”

With Garry Kenneth suspended and Andy Webster a doubt, Dods is the one United player already named as a starter, and he could be wearing the captain’s armband.

Delighted as he is at that, it hasn’t stopped him feeling for Kenneth and hoping Webster is ready in time to lead the team out.

“I’m gutted for Garry, because no-one wants to see boys missing the big games — and we are all hoping Andy will make it.

“If he doesn’t, it won’t be one of our usual partnerships in the middle of the defence, but we are a unit of five or six players at the back and pretty much all season we’ve played well.

“At times, both full-backs have changed and boys have come in and fitted perfectly, so we can do that in the middle.”

There is still a chance Webster will make it after a scan revealed no tear in his calf muscle, but, instead, a nerve problem stemming from his lower back.

“He’s having acupuncture and he’s seeing a chiropractor as well. We think he might be OK,” said boss Peter Houston.

“At least he knows if he runs out on Sunday there isn’t any danger that he’s going to tear his calf or do any serious damage.”

Houstie also moved quickly to distance himself from lingering complaints the game is at the national stadium, which will be less than half full.

“I’ve had an open mind about it. If they had wanted to move it to somewhere like Tynecastle as was suggested, I would have been happy, but I am just as happy to be going to Hampden.

“Although we’ve been there a few times recently, it will still be a first for some of our boys and I know a lot of the Raith lads have not played there.

“It’s a national cup semi-final, so it is a fitting venue and I am sure the fans of both teams will make sure the atmosphere is good.”