Stevie Aitken reckons that the Championship is this season is the highest standard it has ever been, and that if his Dumbarton players can stay in the division, it would be a huge achievement.

Aitken’s part-timers have given themselves a real shot at survival with last week’s away win at Queen of the South taking them to seventh place, three points ahead of St Mirren in the play-off spot and five clear of bottom side Ayr United.

If they are to stay up though, they are going to have to do it the hard way, with a trip to Tannadice today to face Dundee United before welcoming Falkirk to the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium next week.

Aitken is sure though that his men are up to the task.

“It would be an outstanding achievement,” Aitken said. “I think this is the hardest that the Championship has ever been with the clubs that are in it.

“The league is extremely competitive, there’s not a bad team in it, and anyone can beat anyone else from one week to the next.

“Hibs are obviously a wee bit ahead of the rest, but apart from them, there’s not really much in it.

“If we can stay up it would be an outstanding achievement. We’ve still got a lot of work to do though, and we’ll do everything we possibly can in the next two weeks to reach our goal.

“The players are lively and their confidence is high. We’re down to the last couple of games, and what we have done is give ourselves an opportunity.

“Hopefully we can try to get the job done in the next couple of weeks. It’s a tough game we’ve got this week, going away to Dundee United is never easy.

“But I wanted our players to give themselves an opportunity. They have done that, and now we have to try to take advantage of that.”

The Sons have enjoyed a good record against today’s opponents this season, with two wins from two at home and a narrow defeat the last time they visited the City of Discovery.

Aitken hopes that their good showings against United thus far can give them a psychological edge in this afternoon’s encounter.

“The games at home against United we’ve had to play really well to win them, and away from home as well we were a bit unlucky to lose, but we played well that day too,” he said.

“In every game in this division though you have to try to play as best you can, because there really is no easy game in this league.

“Dundee United have been terrific at home this season. We’ll take confidence from the games we’ve played against them this year, but there’s a lot at stake for them as well.

“There’s a lot to play for and that will put a wee edge to it, but we’ll go there and give it our best shot.

“We’ve got a really hard run-in, there’s no doubt about that with us taking on the second and the third team in the league, and they both want to be second to get that advantage in the play-offs.

“That will give them an extra week to prepare, so they will be desperately trying to get that runners-up spot.

“But my players have gone to difficult venues and got points all year, they’ve been terrific. They’ve gone to Easter Road, Falkirk and other tough grounds and come away with something.

“They are a great group, they give it everything they’ve got, and last week they got the rewards.

“The same will be required on Saturday. We need a really big effort again and hopefully we will get our rewards again.”