Simon Donnelly, the Dundee United assistant manager, has told his players to forget their upcoming double-header with city rivals Dundee - and focus firstly on halting high-flying Hamilton Academical.
Dundee United host Hamilton at Tannadice tomorrow knowing a win would let them leapfrog Alex Neil's second-placed team and potentially go to the top of the table, before facing Dundee twice in the space of a few days in the SPFL Premiership and League Cup.
Dens Park is already a 12,000 sell-out for next Sunday's top-flight match and on September 24 they meet again on cup business.
Dundee United are third top in the league table with their only defeat coming at the hands of champions Celtic, but Donnelly insists his side's attention is squarely on Hamilton.
He said: "They have got off to a great start but so have we. With the exception of the Celtic game, we have looked really solid from the centre-halves right through the team. I expect we can cause Hamilton a few problems and win.
"People might have looked at Hamilton at the start of the season and predicted they would be in the bottom half of the league, but they have done really well to prove them wrong. They are playing with confidence but I expect us to meet that challenge if we play the way we know we can.
"We have an important set of games, including the derbies, coming up but I would stress just how important this Hamilton match is. If we can get three points that would confirm just what a good start we have made and we'd have real momentum. It is a big one for us."
Winger Ryan Dow is struggling with a thigh injury, while midfielder Stuart Armstrong is fighting to shake off an ankle knock.
Dundee United could top the SPFL Premiership table by beating Hamilton, provided league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle do not win away to Partick Thistle.
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