The Paisley side have lost their last seven Ladbrokes Premiership games after the Northern Irishman began his tenure as boss following the departure of Alan Stubbs with a goalless home draw against champions Celtic.

Despite that dreadful form, the Buddies sit one point above the toiling Taysiders who have failed to improve on their results since Jim McIntyre took over from Neil McCann, with Dundee losing their last four games under their new manager with only one league win this season.

While all signals point to a crucial bottom-two encounter, Kearney said: "In relation to the position the two teams are in it does make it a huge match.

"I don't think the fact that it is Dundee is the key thing.

"We are just craving that three points and that win which would hopefully be a catalyst to hopefully starting a run of better things.

"Both teams are craving three points but with that it is just three points, the same three points available every other weekend.

"I have seen it happen loads of times before with a game being built up, one team winning, the other team loses and the following week the results reverse and they were right back to where they were."

Kearney insists there remains belief in his squad that they can turn their season around.

He said: "There is no point being in the changing room if they don't feel that they are up to it or they don't feel the opportunity is there to go and get the three points.

"Football can be a harsh game. If you are going to walk around feeling sorry for yourself or with your lip out, that will compound things and teams will be more than happy to make it worse.

"So it is so important that our inspiration and motivation has to come within and it is very much about myself and the players being proactive and push as hard as possible on Saturday."

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