Dundee United star Tope Obadeyi last night cranked up the heat on promotion favourites Hibs - and insisted all the pressure is on them to finally deliver promotion this season.
Neil Lennon's Championship hopefuls are much-fancied to secure a long-awaited return to the top-flight at the third attempt after failing at the play-off stage last season.
Lennon's arrival at Easter Road to succeed former boss Alan Stubbs over the summer has been hailed by their expectant supporters and signalled their burning desire to get back to the top tier of Scottish Football.
But Obadeyi, who joined Ray McKinnon's United in the close-season as they also bid to mount a promotion push in the wake of last season's pain of Premiership relegation, reckons carrying such a burden of expectation could hinder the hopeful Hibees as the Tangerines harbour their own hopes of coming straight back up.
Obadeyi said; “Maybe there is more pressure on Hibs to go up this season having been in the league for three seasons now and that could work in our favour.
“They’re a massive club in Scotland and if they don’t get off to a good start then the fans could get on their back and that might get to hem.
“If that is the case then it could take the pressure off us a bit and we can slip under the radar and fly.
"They’re the favourites - big name manager, big club - so the onus is on them to get that one automatic promotion spot and that could suit us.
“We can go about our business with less pressure and that would enable to do our stuff on the pitch."
United are aiming to hit the ground running against Queen of the South at Tannadice today and were boosted by clinching a place in the last 16 of the League Cup recently.
But winger Obadeyi, who was one of McKinnon's seven summer signings, knows they can't afford to take anything for granted in the notoriously cut-throat Championship.
He added: “We know we can’t expect to turn up on a Saturday and roll teams over in this league.
"Teams are doing their homework and preparing all week to play you but it’s about having the right mentality.
“If we turn up on a Saturday in the right frame of mind then with the players we have we should be challenging at the right end of the table and hopefully we can do that.
“The team is definitely ready for the start of the season. We’ve had the right amount of games and the League Cup set-up has helped with our preparations.
“We’re happy to get through to the last-16 and to get a home draw against Partick Thistle.
"The results have been positive. In the first game against Arbroath everyone was still settling in and getting to know each other’s style.
"I hope for the Queen of the South match we’ll be ready."
Obadeyi understands home form could make all the difference in their quest to seal a return to the Premiership so wants to make life as difficult as possible for visitors to Tayside.
He said: “It’s important to make Tannadice a fortress and we can only do that by winning games at home early in the season to get the fans behind us and we want visiting sides to know they’ll be in a game.
“We’ve only had about five or six games but the fans seem to be happy with what they are seeing.
"Hopefully we can take that feel-good factor into the first game with Queen of the South.
“I don't know much about the league but I know it’s going to be tough. There is no doubt about that."
Meanwhile, United are set to be without defender Paul Dixon who has a knee injury while midfielder Scott Fraser is suspended.
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