"We remain positive, even though there is negativity all around us. I know that if we are at our best we can beat Dundee.

"You need fight and spirit for a derby and hopefully we will get that. Some of the players will be fired up but, possibly, some of them never had it to begin with. We will see."

Here's a picture of the United squad making the short walk across Tannadice Street to Dens Park. 

BBC Scotland's Chris McLaughlin was there and likened it to a funeral procession...

Image source, SNS

There was a glimmer of hope for United at the beginning of April when they moved to within five points of Kilmarnock with a game in hand.

But Mixu Paatelainen's men could not push on from that win at St Johnstone and have lost three on the bounce in the league since, with Killie finding some form to move 11 points ahead.

Starting tonight, there are 12 points remaining for United to fight for but this is a team that has delivered a mere six Premiership victories all season.

The circumstances for the visitors may be bleak, but Dens Park is the scene of some of their greatest triumphs.

In 1979 they faced Aberdeen in the League Cup final. After a goalless draw at Hampden, they took Alex Ferguson's Dons apart in a 3-0 replay win in front of 28,933 at Dens.

A year later it got even better. This time they were defending the trophy in the final against their city rivals. Rather than send both sides to Hampden the venue was decided by a toss of a coin, with Dens Park hosting, but United again prevailed with another 3-0 win.

Image source, SNS

United were not done rubbing their new-found success into the faces of their rivals down the street, and in 1983 they trumped both finals by winning the Premier Division title at Dens Park with a 2-1 win.

"I'm not here to celebrate Dundee United going down. We just want to win the game, get three points and finish seventh. The supporters and players enjoy the derbies and financially it means a lot."

Dundee are unchanged from the 2-1 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

United manager Mixu Paatelainen shuffles his pack from the 3-1 loss to Hamilton Academical.

Edward Ofere and Simon Murray partner each other up front, with Blair Spittal also coming into the side. Making way are Billy McKay, Ryan Dow and Guy Demel.

Dundee: Bain, Holt, O'Dea, Gadzhalov, McGinn, Harkins, Ross, McGowan, Stewart, Hemmings, Wighton.

Substitutes: Mitchell, Konrad, Meggatt, Etxabeguren, Arturo, Colquhoun, Curren.

Dundee United: Kawashima, Knoyle, Dillon, Durnan, Dixon, Paton, Rankin, Fraser, Spittal, Murray, Ofere.

Substitutes: Swick, Morris, McKay, Erskine, Dow, Anier, Donaldson

We all know the football gods can be cruel. Dundee United fans have had a miserable time of it this season, rooted to the bottom of the Premiership for most of the campaign.

And tonight their relegation will be confirmed unless they pick up three points. So where do they need this precious win? Across the street at Dens Park, of course.