JAMIE MacDONALD aims to repay Gary Locke for his faith by helping the Kilmarnock manager succeed with the first team he has been able to mould himself.

Locke took over at Hearts after the winter transfer window ended in 2013 and was soon restricted by a transfer embargo when the club went into administration. After losing his job just as Hearts were set to come out of administration, he took over at Kilmarnock in February days after the transfer window ended.

This is the fourth season he has been in charge of a club but the first time he will be able to call a team his own, and he quickly brought in MacDonald in June.

MacDonald, who aims to make his debut in the Ladbrokes Premiership opener against Dundee at Rugby Park, said: "I enjoyed working under the gaffer last time at Hearts and I'm looking forward to doing that again.

"The situations he has been put in before, he has had his hands tied.

"This is his first season where he has been able to bring his own players in and do his own things from the start of a season.

"It's half the battle if you have a manager you want to play for. It's the case for a lot of the boys here, he has put a lot of faith in us, and we want to have a good season for him especially.

"When I spoke to him he had a desire to bring me here and it's good to be wanted."

MacDonald was told he was surplus to requirements at Hearts on the same day as Locke but went on to enjoy a successful season at Falkirk which culminated in a William Hill Scottish Cup final appearance. But he is keen to sample top-flight football again.

"Last year at Falkirk was great, it's a great club and I thoroughly enjoyed my year there," the 29-year-old said.

"It was a good league to play in with Hearts, Hibs and Rangers in there but I didn't want to stay down there for too long because sometimes you can get lost down there.

"It was a good opportunity to come back and play in the Premiership and I'm really looking forward to playing in it this season."

MacDonald will first have to oust Craig Samson as two experienced goalkeepers challenge for the jersey.

"In football, the best thing for you is competition," he said. "You drive each other on to do as best as you can.

"Whoever gets the nod, fair play to them, and it will be up to the one that's not playing to try to dislodge them. For the one who is in goals you have to make sure your performances are top notch.

"We just have to wait for Saturday to see what happens. Hopefully I have done enough to earn that right."

Locke's opposite number Paul Hartley is certainly not reticent when it comes to dipping into the Championship for new signings and he maintains he has no concerns about his side coping with added expectation in the new season.

The Dark Blues take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in their Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership opener with hopes high within their camp and supporters that they can eclipse last season's top-six finish.

Hartley has brought in no fewer than eight new players over the course of the summer to swell the feel-good factor and is confident they can take the increased pressure in their stride.

Hartley said: "That's just the way football is. The expectation of the club now is a little bit higher because of the way we finished last season.

"But it's better being like that even though it comes with some pressure. We have to be ready for that pressure and we will be.

"We've got a good group who want to do well and we will put pressure on ourselves every week. We want to do well in every competition we enter.

"I think from talking to people they feel the club is going to do well this season.

"We finished in the top-six last season and this season we want to finish higher. So we have to try and improve on what we did, not just in the league but in the cup as well."

Hartley has further strengthened Dundee's squad and hope they can get off to a flier against Gary Locke's men in Ayrshire because he believes the top flight is going to be a much tougher proposition this time round.

He added: "I think it will be a tougher league this year. Everyone has added to their squads.

"I think Hearts will be strong. They'll be a good addition to the league.

"Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone have all added too and so have Motherwell and Ross County.

"So hopefully we can start the season strongly and do well over the next 10-and-a-half months.

"We want to be at the right end of the table. We don't want to be near the bottom fighting for you life.

"We saw Motherwell last season in the play-offs and we don't want to be in that situation."

Dundee are set to be without injured winger Nicky Low (leg) and defender Kosta Gadzhalov (shoulder) for the trip to Killie.