Motherwell hit the road for the last time on Saturday in search of the win that would have us leapfrog St Johnstone but the Perth Saints know that a home victory will secure seventh place.
There is little between the sides; one point and a one goal advantage after 36 league games suggests that this may be a close encounter. With three post-split fixtures already completed both teams have beaten Dundee and drawn the other two.
With safety assured the opposing managers have been able to focus on early preparations for next season. That has influence player selection and given a chance to young hopefuls.
Our last trip to McDiarmid Park produced the sole win in a bleak seven game December run as Tom Aldred and Danny Johnson found the net in a 2-1 triumph. That was followed by a 3-0 win at Fir Park at the end of March when Elliott Frear, David Turnbull and Richard Tait scored in the second half.
The visiting staring eleven will be close to that which drew against St Mirren last week but Alex Rodriguez-Gorrin will expect to be picked on his return from suspension.
St Johnstone have re-signed a number of their squad and negotiations continue with others. Tommy Wight is aware of the extra cash that follows seventh place and is quoted in The Courier, “We have a lot to play for. It wouldn’t be a risk playing Easty (Brian Easton on the way back from injury) but with seventh to play for I don’t want to make too many changes.”
It is difficult to see this game as anything other than an end of season runabout. A classic is not what any of the likely 2,000 spectators expect. A 0-0 will lend some interest to the final game in the calendar.
The referee in Perth will be Colin Steven.