In a crucial clash in the Scottish Premiership's fight for survival, St Johnstone are set to host Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.
The Saints will be desperate to bounce back after three consecutive losses, while Killie will be hoping to make it three wins from their last four.
Match preview
© Imago
Simo Valakari's St Johnstone are bottom of the pile in the top flight, and having lost their first game after the league split, they will require a miraculous recovery to avoid the drop.
Last Saturday, the Saints fell to their 21st defeat of the season when they lost 3-2 away to Motherwell, and the manager will be disappointed that his team surrendered the lead that Makenzie Kirk gave them with just six minutes on the clock.
Dropping three more points has left Valakari's side six behind Ross County, who currently occupy the division's relegation playoff spot with only four games left to play, as well as an almost out of reach eight points from safety.
That being said, this weekend's hosts will draw confidence from playing in front of their own fans this time around, and having lost just one of their last four at McDiarmid Park - in addition to keeping three clean sheets in that period - they will be hopeful of walking away with much needed points.
If St Johnstone can earn what would be their first win since a surprise April 6 victory over Celtic, then they could move to within three points of potential safety, though a fourth straight defeat could see the gap increase to an almost insurmountable nine points.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Derek McInnes's Kilmarnock are all but mathematically safe from definite relegation given that they are nine points ahead of their opponents, but they will be keen to distance themselves from the playoff spot with a victory.
Last time out, Killie beat the Saints' demotion rivals Ross County 2-0 thanks to goals either side of half time from Bruce Anderson and Liam Donnelly, and the boss will be pleased with his side's efficiency considering that they scored twice from just three shots on target.
That win took McInnes's men to 38 points for the season, though despite being third in the bottom six group, they are only three points above the second-from-bottom Staggies.
Adding to the visitors' concerns will be the fact that they have lost seven away matches on the bounce leading up to this clash, with the most recent two being by 5-1 scorelines against Celtic and St Mirren, and fans would be forgiven for feeling anxious regardless of the level of opposition they face.
Kilmarnock will have to overcome their 12-game winless run to triumph this weekend, and while three points would be enough to see them leapfrog Hearts, they may only be spared from slipping into the relegation playoff spot by their goal difference should they lose.
Team News
© Imago
St Johnstone have a relatively fit squad to choose from this weekend, though centre-back Bozo Mikulic will be out until late 2025 with a cruciate ligament injury.
In his absence, expect to see Sam Curtis, Daniels Balodis and Sven Sprangler make up Valakari's back three, with nominal wing-backs Stephen Duke-McKenna and Taylor Stephen providing support.
As for Kilmarnock, they are anticipated to be fully geared up for Saturday's match, so strikers Fraser Murray and Bruce Anderson should be aided by wingers Danny Armstrong and Bobby Wales once again on Saturday.
In the centre of the park, Liam Donnelly should be joined by David Watson, while Robbie Deas and Stuart Findlay marshal the defence in front of shot-stopper Kieran O'Hara.
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Curtis, Balodis, Sprangler; Duke-Mckenna, Holt, Carey, Steven; Kirk, McPake; Sidibeh
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba; Armstrong, Donnelly, Watson, Wales; Murray, Anderson
We say: St Johnstone 1-0 Kilmarnock
While St Johnstone have struggled overall, their home form suggests that they could earn a win when they need it most this weekend.
In the same vein, Kilmarnock have been shockingly poor on the road this season, and they will be hard-pressed to walk away with anything against the league's bottom club.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
