Humza Yousaf has admitted there is "no shortcut or wheeze" to achieving Scottish independence.
The First Minister spoke with reporters on a visit to the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh today as his party prepares to gather in Dundee tomorrow.
An SNP convention will take place at the Caird Hall where members will debate independence strategy following last year's Supreme Court defeat.
Judges struck down Nicola Sturgeon's plan to hold an IndyRef2 in October this year and the party has been divided on the way forward since.
Yousaf said he would set out at the convention how he "advance our cause" at the next general election.
"We don't have a date on that General Election yet, but I can tell you this much – independence will be front and centre when it comes to the campaign for that general election from the SNP," he said.
Asked if the SNP had run out of road, Yousaf said: "There's definitely no shortcut or wheeze. The reason for that is, of course, that the UK Government continues to deny our democratic right – our democratic right to an independence referendum, to that legally-binding referendum.
"So as long as they continue to deny that, what we have to do, from the SNP and the broader Yes movement, is pile on the pressure, the power of the people.
"So there isn't a wheeze, there isn't a rabbit I'm going to pull out the hat tomorrow. I've said that very clearly all along. I will, of course, articulate what I think the strategy should be moving forward."
Asked if his strategy is simply building support, Yousaf said: "No, I think there's more to that. I will outline tomorrow, again without going into the detail of it, how we will use the general election to advance our cause. We have to do that. That is the next test of the proposition of independence. We have to make sure we're mobilising people behind that cause.”
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