Motherwell will close the year with trips to Inverness and Hamilton. It's an opportunity to put some distance between us and the chasing pair although we'll settle for the status quo when the bells arrive.
The prospect of a dark winter journey to and from the Highland capital will do little to encourage 'Well fans to travel to Wednesday night's game. The fond memory of Marvellous Marvin's last minute winner on our April visit to the Caledonian Stadium may encourage a few to venture north in the hope of a repeat scoreline.
Inverness have gone two months without a win having taken three draws from the last eight attempts . One ominous note - their last win was their 3-0 at Fir Park! There is a "Four for Forty" offer available for match tickets but seasonal generosity does not seem to extend to Motherwell fans who will be relieved of £23 at the turnstile.
Lasley must be a doubt following his half-time substitution against Aberdeen at the weekend. McMillan may be his replacement. Ferguson did not play at the weekend and if McGhee is tempted to favour three central defenders then he'll be preferred to Hammell. McDonald will be keen to follow up Friday's overhead spectacular with another goal, whether flamboyant or a thanks to alucky sclaff will not matter.
The squad will not return home until the early hours of Thursday morning when preparations for the Hogmany meeting with Hamilton will be underway. Our neighbours will have an extra day to recover as they play at Pittodrie on Tuesday. The game at New Douglas Park will end the year and take us into the three week winter break.
The Accies have not won any of their last nine games but Motherwell have never looked comfortable on their artificial surface. We'll take heart from the 4-2 win at Fir Park in September thanks to Moult's four goal romp. It may be that only a couple will be needed on Saturday.
Is it too much to hope for a 1-1 in Inverness and a 2-1 win in Hamilton?