Dundee boss Steven Pressley has warned his side they must produce a “world-class” performance if they are to take anything from Rangers at Dens Park on Saturday.
The Dark Blues head into the clash after a positive result at Falkirk, but Pressley knows the demands will increase significantly against Derek McInnes’ Rangers.
The Dundee manager believes bravery and an exceptional level of execution will be required to have any chance of securing a result against either of the Glasgow clubs.
“You'll never get the result against any of the Old Firm without those two elements,” Pressley said.
“You have to be brave in the way that we play, but they'll ask questions of you and you've got to do the basics at a really top level, world-class level to get a result.
“If you do that and you get a little bit of luck, you've always got a chance.”
Dundee confident after Falkirk result
Pressley pointed to Dundee's recent performance and 2-1 win against John McGlynn’s Bairns as an example of the standards required.
The conditions and environment made the trip challenging, but Dundee delivered the intensity needed to come away with a positive result.
“It was one of the features of our result at the weekend at the Falkirk Stadium,” the former Ibrox defender said.
“Difficult environment, conditions, but we did the basics exceptionally well.
“Derek McInnes is one of the great strengths around all his teams. They do things really well and as a result of that, they ask the opposition to do those things.
“If we don't do the basics, then Rangers will win the game.”
Rangers can top the league
The Dens Park clash therefore presents Dundee with a major test of whether they can reproduce the determination and physical standards that earned them their recent result at Falkirk.
Pressley knows there is little margin for error against a Rangers side that has rediscovered momentum under McInnes.
With Celtic playing against Benfica in the Europa League midweek, the Saturday evening kick-off gives McInnes and his team the chance to go back to the top of the Scottish Premiership before Martin O’Neill’s side face Hearts on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s title decider at Parkhead.
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