Dundee

And who'll be relegated?
Motherwell

If money was no object and you could sign one player for your club, who would it be?
Patrick Vieira: a great player and nobody better to learn from as a midfielder

Worst ground to play at? And why?
Cliftonhill. Our minibus got nicked from there once. In the Premierleague Fir Park is the worst, because the pitch is terrible

Which teammate has the strangest pre-game ritual?
Barry Smith, the skipper, always makes sure he is the last person to go round shaking everyone's hand

Best performance last year?
The 2-2 draw with Rangers at Dens Park when they needed three penalties

And the worst?
A 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock — the gaffer always goes back to that game

Most memorable moment last term?
The Scottish Cup final — the atmosphere was amazing

And the funniest?
I hit a shot which came back and hit me on the head because I had screwed the ball so much

The best individual performance against you last season?
Henrik Larsson, when Celtic beat us 6-2

Which is the best set of away fans you have encountered?
Aberdeen's are always very vocal

What is your favourite movie to watch on the bus?
We usually play cards, but it would have to be Carlito's Way, starring the great Al Pacino

Who would you prefer to watch: Jim Delahunt or Rob McLean?
Jim Delahunt, because Rob McLean likes the sound of his own voice too much

What would change about the game?
Diving has to be stamped out

One word to describe your mood on the eve of the new season?
Determined

Describe Jim Duffy in three words: Understanding, fun, motivated

3 key questions that will decide this season

1 Can they cope with the loss of Zurab Khizanishvili?

Every cloud has a silver lining, and Dundee's may well have emerged in what was their last game of the domestic season. Their defeat by Rangers in the Scottish Cup final, which marked the Georgian's last game for the Tayside club, and also saw the emergence of Lee Mair as a potential long-term partner for Lee Wilkie in central defence. The young defender's composed performance, particularly in quelling the threat of Rangers' dangerman, Ronald de Boer, made him a standout. Wilkie will also have an increasingly prominent role to play in Khizanishvili's absence

2 Can they sustain the progress of last season?
A top-six finish, a Scottish Cup final appearance and a chance to enter the Uefa Cup proper was an impressive plunder for Jim Duffy's first season in charge. The signs are encouraging for a repeat performance. The perception may be that the artistry of Ivano Bonetti's reign has been replaced by industry, but that only tells part of the story, as they have retained the services of flair players such as Fabian Caballero and Georgi Nemsadze. There is more to come from promising Duffy buys such as Steve Lovell and Garry Brady, while Julian Speroni is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premierleague

3Are they well-equipped enough for a run in Europe?
Unexploded land-mines, rabid dogs, assassinations. And that's just Tayside. Seriously, though, Duffy's side could have wished for an easier draw than Albania's KF Vllaznia for their first serious venture into Europe since the 1970s. Georgi Nemsadze has a wealth of international experience and should stand up and be counted in the European arena. Lee Wilkie and Gavin Rae also have international experience to draw on and Caballero is a player who seems to rise to the big occasion

New arrival

Compared to the revolving door of the Bonetti era — and also neighbours United — the Dens Park contract negotiators have had a barren time of it this summer. Brent Sancho, however, has joined from Trinidad and Tobago side San Juan Jabloteh. The 26-year-old defender impressed after training with Dundee during their trip to the Caribbean last winter. Sancho's previous clubs include Finnish side Mypa 47 and New York/New Jersey Metrostars. He will provide defensive cover in the absence of Zurab Khizanishvili

Strongest XI

Speroni
Mair
Wilkie
Mackay
Hernandez
Nemsadze
Smith
Novo
Rae
Caballero
Lovell

The squad

1 Julian Speroni G
2 Barry Smith M
3 Dave Mackay D
4 Tom Hutchison D
5 Beto Carranza M
6 Lee Wilkie D
7 Fabian Caballero F
8 Gavin RaeM
9 Juan Sara F
10 Georgi NemsadzeM
11 Mark Robertson M
14 Gavin Beith D
15 Steven Milne F
16 Jonay Hernandez D
17 Nacho Novo F
19 Lee Mair D
20 Barry Forbes F
21 Steven Robb M
22 Derek Soutar G
24 Neil Jablonski M
25 Steve Lovell F
26 Garry Brady M
Manager: Jim Duffy

Celebrity fan

Jim Gellatly, Beat 106 DJ
We've got to be looking at Rangers and Celtic next season and getting in the top three. I'm optimistic, and a European place would be nice. Fabian Caballero is one of the top three strikers in the country

Where are they now?

Steven Tweed: Moved to Stoke City following a spell in Greece with Ionikos. Now in his second season with MSV Duisburg in Germany