Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser at Tannadice

Massimo Donati's ageing legs are almost exposed as he brings down Thomas Mikkelson on the edge of the Accies penalty box.

The veteran Italian midfielder, who is playing in a back three tonight, is lucky to escape a booking for that one.

A Darian McKinnon cross causes a nervous moment in the United penalty box, but instead of a corner, Rakish Bingham is ruled offside.

Hamilton Academical manager Martin Canning: "We've got a little bit of nerves, but that's normal, it's anticipation.

"It's calmness as well because you know what the job is. We know what we've got to go and do.

"We need to now make sure that we go out and try and win the game.

"The performance levels of that last two games have been very, very good."

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Accies get the first leg underway at Tannadice.

A one-minute silence is observed impeccably for the victims of the Manchester terror attack, only broken by the sound of a sole seagull.

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Here come the teams, greeted by a massive tangerine flag behind one of the goals.

A couple of minutes from kick off now.

The atmosphere is really building at Tannadice, which is bathed in sunshine.

Handing former Hearts and Rangers winger David Templeton his first start for Accies proved a masterstroke for manager Martin Canning against Dundee on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has had a nightmare time with injuries, only playing six times in the last two seasons.

But, having warmed up with a couple of substitute appearances, he tormented the Dark Blues and inspired a 4-0 win that saved Accies from automatic relegation.

It is no surprise that Templeton is handed another start.

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Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon on BBC Radio Scotland: "It was all rest and recovery after the game on Sunday.

"I don't have a lot of players to call upon and the players deserve to retain their place.

"All we ask is that they keep that performance level up.

"If they continue in that way, they will give themselves a chance.

"It has been proven over the years that the format favours the Premiership team, but hopefully we can buck that trend."

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Starring for Hamilton won Tony Andreu a big-money move to Norwich City in 2015, but the Frenchman insists there will be no split loyalties as he looks to relegate his former club now that he is on loan to Dundee United.

“You can’t really stay in the past and I am a United player now,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s Hamilton that I am playing against and that’s football.

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"I was promoted with them and there is an attachment, but you have to get over this and try to give your best."

Andreu failed to become a regular in the English Championship and has at times flattered to deceive in Scotland's second tier this season.

But there is no doubt that, along with in-form goalscorer Simon Murray, the 28-year-old will be the focus of United's play - and hopes - against Accies.

In manager Ray McKinnon and midfielder Tony Andreu, United have men who know all about play-off victories.

McKinnon was part of the United side that defeated Partick Thistle in 1996 to ensure their return to the top flight a season after relegation.

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It would be one of those many football ironies if Andreu was to help United relegate his former club and enjoy his second play-off success.

The 28-year-old Frenchman's last-minute equaliser three years ago took Accies' final against Hibs into extra-time and they went on to win that secured promotion after a penalty shoot-out.

Dundee United: Bell, Dillon, Dixon, Durnan, Spittal, Murray, Edjenguele, Flood, Kuate, Mikkelsen, Andreu.

Substitutes: Donaldson, Toshney, Nicholls, Telfer, Zwick, Coote, Robson.

Hamilton Academical: Matthews, Skondras, Imrie, Redmond, Crawford, Gogic, Bingham, MacKinnon, Donati, McMann, Templeton.

Substitutes: Gillespie, Docherty, D'Acol , Watson, Longridge, Want, Woods.

United should be full of confidence as they entertain Accies, being unbeaten in their last 10 outings, with striker Simon Murray having scored once in every leg of their two play-offs.

Indeed, the Terrors have gone eight home games without defeat.

In contrast, Accies had to lift themselves out of a four-game losing downer to beat Dundee on Saturday and avoid automatic relegation.

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Martin Canning's side, though, have recent history on their side against their hosts.

Accies are unbeaten in their last four meetings between the sides, all last season as United headed for relegation from the Premiership.

That included wins on their last two visits to Tannadice.

Their 3-1 win there in April last year left United one game away from relegation.

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Hamilton midfielder Massimo Donati played in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk, AC Milan, Benfica and Manchester United but insists the play-off matches with Accies - the second leg is at the SuperSeal Stadium on Sunday - are just as big.

"For me, what I had in the past is in the past, it is done," said the Italian.

"Now I am just focused on these games and, for me, they are really important games and big games as well.

"This club has been in the Premiership a few years now and it is important for the young players to stay in the Premiership to show their talent."

Donati is hoping Tannadice provides him with more good memories.

The 36-year-old was part of the Celtic squad when they won the title on the last day of the 2007/08 season with a 1-0 win over the Terrors on Tayside.

Donati, an unused substitute that night, said: "It was the last game of the season and hopefully it is a good place to go again."

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United, for so long seen as a fixture in the upper reaches of the top flight, suffered automatic relegation last season after finishing bottom.

After dropping out of the nation's top league for the first time since 1995, they are looking to repeat their feat at that time of making a return after only one season.

Having dispensed with Mixu Paatelainen after relegation, the season began with much optimism under Ray McKinnon, their former midfielder.

But, despite the new manager having impressed in charge of Brechin City and Raith Rovers, the pre-season optimism turned to mid-season concern as a slump in form allowed Hibernian to canter to the title and automatic promotion.

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United eventually finished third, three points behind Falkirk, who themselves were 11 adrift fo the champions.

That meant a third-versus-fourth quarter-final play-off against Greenock Morton, but that was negotiated with ease, 5-1 on aggregate, against a side whose own form had slumped at the crucial stage of the season.

Next up were third-top Falkirk, veterans of the play-offs and beaten finalists last season, but despite the Bairns leaving Tannadice with a 1-1 draw and holding a 1-0 half-time advantage on their home patch, United progressed to the final with two goals in a rousing last 15 minutes.

Dundee United are unchanged from their semi-final win over Falkirk.

Scott Fraser was cleared to play after an x-ray on a foot injury but does not even make the bench, while fellow midfielder Stewart Murdoch also misses out through injury.

Goalkeeper Cammy Bell, as well as midfielder Willo Flood and striker Simon Murray have overcome knocks, but defender Lewis Toshney misses out through injury.

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Accies captain Mikey Devlin, who is suspended for the second leg, misses out through injury.

His place is taken by veteran Italian midfielder Massimo Donati, who will be in central defence.

Central defender Georgios Sarris failed to recover from the knock that forced him out of Saturday's win over Dundee.

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Accies are no strangers to the play-offs, having earned promotion thanks to a thrilling two-leg win over Hibs in 2014.

With the lowest crowds and arguably the smallest playing budget in the top-flight, they usually start as favourites to finish in the bottom places.

They defied the odds in their first season back in the top flight, finishing seventh, then narrowly avoided the play-off last season by finishing 10th.

A run of four straight defeats meant that they went into this season's final day in a dogfight with Inverness Caledonian Thistle to avoid automatic relegation.

Martin Canning's side responded with a fine 4-0 win at home to Dundee that meant Caley Thistle finished one point adrift despite their own 3-2 win over Motherwell.

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The big news today is that Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is being considered by Sunderland as a possible target as they look to find a replacement for David Moyes as team boss.

It's not the ideal news for the Dons as they prepare to face Celtic in Saturday's Scottish Cup final.

But they fended off links with the Rangers job earlier this season and would Sunderland be a major risk for McInnes given their financial problems.

Would McInnes be a risk considering he was sacked by Bristol City the last time he managed in England's Championship?

Give us your thoughts on that and tonight's match on Twitter and the BBC Sport Scotland Facebook page.