Win will guarantee the Tangerines advance

them would guarantee at least second in the group and a nine-points tally that would probably see them go through.

And despite that heavy defeat the other night, Allan Johnston’s side have lost just three of their last 17 competitive matches.

If United and the Pars have everything to play for in front of the BT Sport cameras, Dundee’s chances of going through lie somewhere between very slim and none.

Even if they beat Forfar at Dens tomorrow and finish on seven points in Group A, they will only claim second spot if their midweek conquerors Peterhead lose at Dumbarton.

If Jim McInally’s men from the Blue Toon win, East Fife will be runners-up.

And should results go their way, it would require a freak set of scores throughout the seven other sections for the Dark Blues to be one of the top four runners-up.

Already they cannot better the record of either of the top two in Group D, where, with one game each to go, Alloa sit on nine points and Raith Rovers have eight.

Group F has been won by Rangers on maximum points and, with second-place Motherwell facing third-place Stranraer, at least one of them will end tomorrow on a minimum of eight points.

In Group H, Morton sit on eight points and Kilmarnock, who face Albion Rovers at Rugby Park, will expect a victory to take their tally to nine points.

United’s Blair Spittal and Arbroath’s Mark Whatley challenge for the ball.