Dundee boss James McPake insists the Championship will be about more than just him versus Robbie Neilson.
The pair are set to renew hostilities after Neilson made a dramatic return to Tynecastle and will lead the Jambos in the second tier unless their legal challenge is successful.
He and McPade faced off in Dundee derbies last season after the Dens Park club were relegated in 208/19, and Neilson owned the bragging rights, battering Dundee 6-2 at Tannadice before winning 2–0 at Dens.
The third meeting of the campaign ended in a 1-1 draw.
But McPake, a former Hibs captain, says he’s just as focused on competing with the other nine managers in the division as he is on his old City of Discovery nemesis.
“It’s the same as any other team or manager,” he told the Evening Telegraph. “There’s more to this league than Dundee and Hearts."
“It will be a big fixture, I get that. Tynecastle is a great venue to good and play football with a good atmosphere.
“When you go there and it’s full it’s a really hostile environment which is good to play in, in my opinion.
“People like being involved in these occasions so it doesn’t matter if it’s Robbie Neilson in the dugout.
“I’ll be going up against Mark Kerr or Dick Campbell the same way. My job is to go and try to win a game of football for Dundee.
“It doesn’t matter who’s across from me. My complete focus is on Dundee.”
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