DUNDEE United captain Lee Wilkie has signed a three-year deal with the club – and could be followed by defensive partner Darren Dods.
The 28-year-old has opted to extend his stay at Tannadice despite interest from Rangers and a club in the Engish championship.
With United challenging for a place in next season's Uefa Cup, it is understood the possibility of playing for the club
in Europe is a factor in his decision to stay at Tannadice.
Wilkie, who has 11 caps for Scotland, the last of which came in the traumatic 6-0 Euro 2004 play-off defeat in Amsterdam, has missed a large chunk of his career having sustained three serious knee injuries during his time with city rivals Dundee.
As a result he does not have a cruciate ligament in one of his knees, but has proved his fitness by playing over 80 matches for United since joining in 2006.
Manager Craig Levein installed him as captain following the departure of Barry Robson to Celtic last season and has watched as Wilkie grew into the role to such an extent he is on the verge of a Scotland comeback.
With Wilkie's future now secure Levein, who is also in talks with Sean Dillon and Willo Flood, will turn his attention to getting veteran Dods signed up.
The 33-year-old former St Johnstone and Inverness player has been an important figure since arriving from the Highland club on a free transfer two years ago.
Dods recently lost his place to youngster Garry Kenneth, prompting Caley manager Craig Brewster to express an interest in taking him back north, but Levein views him as a key member of his squad and will pull out all the stops to get him to remain beyond the summer.
With Wilkie suspended this weekend, Dods will return to the side alongside Kenneth against East Stirlingshire and Levein sees having someone with his experience around Tannadice as vital. He said:
"Darren will come into the side on Sunday. He's a big part of things here and I've been talking to him about a new contract.
"He'll be offered a deal on improved terms because he's an important player who still has a lot to offer. He's done really well for me since he joined us.
"Sometimes he's fallen foul of the under-21 rule because that means if he's not starting then he might not be in the squad because we need to have younger players on the bench.
"The fact he is an out-and-out centre-half doesn't help him either because I've got players who can adapt to a few positions.
"But he's an important member of the squad, I want him to stay with us and will be doing my best to make sure than happens."
United are without injured midfielder Scott Robertson for the trip to Ochilview, so Prince Buaben will come back into the reckoning.
The full article contains 499 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
