St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of Dundee (15:00 GMT).

Here are the main points:

• He is looking forward to a "big game" in the Tayside derby against a "very good team who are in very good form".

• Valakari is proud of his side's strong home record - just one defeat in six league matches - and adds: ''They (the fans) need to push and our players give everything so together we can make this a fortress."

• The Perth boss is full of praise for Dundee: "I have been very impressed with what the manager as done there, with what the players have done there. They know what they are."

• Seventh-place St Johnstone have lost just one of their past six games, drawing four, and Valakari says: "We want to win football matches, we need to win football matches and we will win football matches."

• His side's adaptability pleases the Finn, who cites last week's 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock in which they twice came from behind after having goalkeeper Toby Steward sent off early as "a good example".

• Spanish winger Unax Alvarez, who signed in the summer, has yet to make his debut because of injury, with Valakari saying "he has been the unluckiest player".

• Team news: Steward is suspended but winger Kai Kotheringham returns from a ban. Defender Morgan Boyes is out after picking up an injury in training.