"Look, I love this football club," the 34-year-old said.

"What it has done for me in almost five years I've been here, I don't know what I'd need to do to repay it in terms of, first of all, signing me when I hadn't played in six months at Hibs due to my second back surgery.

"They took a massive gamble on me to bring me here. I'm still here. And a couple of years down the line I suffer another injury and they look after me the best possible way they could.

"They went above and beyond what I could ask a football club to do for me and my family. Whether that was going to see whatever surgeon I wanted, getting me any treatment I wanted.

"So for me to even think about that this week I think would have been disrespectful to the football club and the fans.

"Obviously it goes through your head, but I genuinely mean it when I say that all I've thought about this week has been the St Mirren game."

St Mirren need to better Hamilton's result against St Johnstone to avoid a relegation play-off but Dundee are also desperate for points having not yet won at home in 2019.

McPake said: "It has been hectic. It is a good hectic. I've been used to that side of football for years when I was in it in the lead up to a game.

"So I'm just enjoying the moment and that's what is getting me through the week and I can't wait for Saturday."

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