QUEENS will need to upset the history books if they’re to leave Dundee United with all three points.
The Doonhamers haven’t beaten the Arabs in 54 years and club legend Billy Houliston got a goal the last time the Dumfries side won at Tannadice, a 3-1 victory, in 1946.
Current boss Gavin Skelton, however, is far more concerned with the here and now and isn’t phased to be playing one of the favourites for the Scottish Championship title on the opening day.
He said: “I’m really excited about the start of the league campaign.
“You’ve got to play them away sometime so it may as well be now. I watched them on Sunday and they are a good team.
“If we don’t get anything from the game it won’t be for the lack of effort.”
The last time the teams met was in 2012 at Palmerston with the Arabs winning 1-0. United, including ex-Queens defender Mark Durnan, were relegated from the top flight last season but are among the favourites to go straight back up.
Midfielder Callum Tapping is back from a one-game League Cup suspension.
However striker Derek Lyle remains a doubt after picking up an injury in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Stenhousemuir.
Skelton was hoping Dale Hilson would be back closer to full fitness having missed a week’s training leading up to that same Stenny encounter.
Queens quickly follow up tomorrow’s away tie with another road trip on Tuesday night.
They head to Edinburgh for the next round of the League Cup where they will take on Hibernian at Easter Road.