Levein up for a cup final

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 23:11

DUNDEE United manager Craig Levein believes today's clash with Hearts is a cup final for his team.

With Levein's former club ahead by two points going into the last two SPL fixtures of the season, he knows victory at Tynecastle would hand United the impetus in the race for third place.

After finishing fifth last season, United's aim this term has been to grab the coveted 'best of the rest' accolade in behind the Old Firm. A blip in form at the start of the year saw the Tangerines slip behind Hearts, but in recent weeks they have begun to close the gap and Levein believes they have what it takes to finally overtake their rivals.

He said: "This weekend is going to be like a cup tie and I'm expecting it to be played like one.

"This is the biggest game of our season and all our work throughout the year has boiled down to this game. That's the way we want it because these are the kind of occasions you want to be involved in.

"If you'd told me at the start of the season we'd be going to Tynecastle with two games left having a chance to get into third place, I would've bitten your hand off. We asked the players a while back to get themselves into this situation and they've done it.

"At one stage, Hearts were five points behind, but we've reeled them in a bit and know that getting third place is now in our own hands.

"That's all you want at this stage of the season because we know our fate is entirely down to what we do."

Levein will have captain Lee Wilkie available despite the defender's injury against Celtic on Tuesday.

He said: "Lee is a bit stiff and sore, but I'm expecting him to be okay. He's the kind of lad who just gets on with things anyway and having him available is great news for us."