As Dundee prepares for a crucial showdown at Dens Park this Saturday, head coach Steven Pressley has issued a stark warning: relegation has turned Livingston into a "dangerous animal."

The stakes couldn't be higher for the Dark Blues. A victory over the already-relegated Lions would all but secure their Premiership status for another season. But Pressley isn't taking anything for granted, especially after Livingston's fate was sealed last weekend following Kilmarnock's 3-0 triumph over Dundee United.

When asked if facing a team with nothing left to lose makes the task tougher, Pressley didn't hesitate. "I think harder," he said. "The biggest thing that affects performance is pressure and anxiety, and Livingston are free of that. In my opinion, that makes them a dangerous animal."

The Dundee boss has been closely watching his opponents' season, noting that their relegation doesn't tell the full story. "They have been a very unlucky team this year," Pressley explained. "They have performed well in many games that they haven't come away with anything."

History between these two sides adds another layer of tension. Previous encounters have been nail-biters, with Dundee winning just one of their last three meetings—and that came courtesy of a last-minute goal. "We have found the level of game really difficult against them," Pressley admitted. "They have been very narrow games—we have drawn two and come out winners in one where we scored pretty much in the last minute."

For Dundee, this isn't just another match—it's an opportunity to cement their top-flight future. But as Pressley knows all too well, facing a team with nothing to lose can be the most dangerous challenge of all. "It is an opportunity that we don't want to give up," he said, "but we are also aware we are against a very difficult opposition."