Hibs game can fuel Dundee’s top six tilt

THE race for the top six is well and truly on.

And Dundee have given themselves a head start on the competition with eight games until the split.

Back-to-back wins over St Johnstone and Ross County have pushed them five points ahead of the chasing pack.

Aberdeen and Hibs are there with Motherwell one point further back.

That brace of victories has also brought the Dark Blues to within touching distance of St Mirren in front and Kilmarnock in fourth, five points ahead.

Tomorrow promises to be one of the most crucial days of the season as Dundee head to Hibs knowing victory would propel them eight points ahead of their opponents and gain an advantage over either Kilmarnock or Aberdeen, who face each other at the same time.

Tony Docherty has key men back available in defence after injury and plenty of options to choose from.

Aaron Donnelly returned and excelled in the last two matches at centre-back alongside skipper Joe Shaughnessy.

Ricki Lamie made his return from a hamstring injury from the bench, a late sub playing a part in the winner against St Johnstone and then coming on to shore up the backline against County.

And this week saw the return to training of Mexican Antonio Portales after an even lengthier time out with a hamstring issue.

The Mexican made a big impact when he returned from a different injury at Easter Road in September.

Docherty is delighted to have the defender back in the squad.

“Getting Antonio back will be like a new signing,” the Dens boss said.

“He was a huge part of us having five clean sheets in six games earlier in the season so we’re delighted to have him back.

“Antonio deserves real credit because he’s back two weeks earlier than expected and that’s down to the amount of work he’s put in.

“He’s a great character, the lads all love him so seeing him out training again gave everyone a massive lift.

“We’ll see how he is... but the last time when he came back after five weeks out, he was back early and was able to play straight away.”

At centre-back there is also Ryan Astley, recently signed from Everton. But his introduction has been slow, making just one substitute appearance so far.

Lee Ashcroft, meanwhile, has gone out on loan to Raith Rovers.

Docherty has options at centre-back. The full-back slots, though, are pretty much locked in already. Jordan McGhee has been in fine form on the right while Owen Beck is one of the stars of the team on the left.

If he’s not able to get over the slight groin injury that forced him off last time out, Owen Dodgson can take his place.

Rather than who, the bigger questions is how Docherty sets up.

Dundee’s formation has been a changing one lately. The first-half of the season saw 3-5-2 used regularly but injuries in recent weeks saw the manager change things.

He started against St Johnstone with a 4-4-2 before switching to 4-3-3 for the second half, which brought victory.

And Docherty stuck with that line-up to start against Ross County. Once they went 2-0 up, though, Lamie was sent on as Dundee moved to a back three.

But a trip to Easter Road brings bigger threats than a home match against a struggling Ross County. With that in mind, will Docherty change things up for Hibs?

A back three would let Lamie or Portales back into the starting XI while keeping Shaughnessy and Donnelly. It also frees up Beck to raid down the left. And it keeps the midfield three together but allows Docherty to play two strikers.

However, 4-3-3 worked well against St Johnstone and Ross County.

A conundrum for the manager – but one he’s delighted to have.

“I’ve got the players and the squad to change between a four and a three,” Docherty said. “Antonio adds to the options we have and increases that flexibility.

“The credit for the way we’ve been able to change things up has to go to the players because it’s OK me putting up a shape, they’re the ones who have to take in on board and carry it out.”

He added: “Hibs will be a tough, tough game. We understand they’re a good side, a possession-based side with a very expansive style. They’re at home in front of a demanding crowd and haven’t won a league game in eight.

The game plan we’ve been working on, we’ll certainly have to be at our best to pick up anything from Easter Road.

“But it’s great to go into it on the back of back-to-back victories.”

AWAY ENCOUNTER: Dundee’s Ricki Lamie pats Hibernian’s Elie Youan when the teams met at Easter Road in September. Inset: Antonio Portales and Tony Docherty.