Having struggled against St Johnstone since they were promoted to the SPL it now seems that we are the dominant force in games between Scotland's two footballing Saints. We failed to concede a goal to them last year and managed to beat them twice, ending a rather lengthy wait for a victory - although, like a league win in 2012, the wait to beat them at home goes on. But while we're better than the Saintees in head to head ties there's no doubting who has been the better side over the course of the season. Only a disaster would stop St Johnstone making it into the top six - and only a miracle would allow us to join them.
It is the progress of teams like St Johnstone that has made Buddies frustrated with our own situation. Like ourselves, the Perth Saints were relegated from the SPL in the early 2000s. We returned in 2006, them three years later. Since then only once have we failed to be involved in a relegation battle and haven't finished higher than 10th. Meanwhile, the Saintees have never been in danger of going down and have regularly been pushing for the top six - a goal they will almost certainly achieve this season. They've been able to sign guys we can only dream of and with the sides being in a similar financial situation it made supporters of the Paisley Saints more than a little bit peeved.
Sadly, this season won't see the situation change although we should hopefully avoid our annual involvement in the relegation battle this time around. However, if we don't get a win or two quickly then we could be dragged back into things if Dunfermline suddenly turn things around (and remember, that's where we go next week). Last week we were superb against Hearts for half an hour or so and if we repeat that performance for the whole game tomorrow the Saintees won't have a hope of living with us.
The performance at Tynecastle was partly because we were forced to field an incredibly attacking side, David van Zanten and Lee Mair the only fit defenders. The situation should improve slightly with Marc McAusland expected to make a quick return from his injury, although David Barron is likely to still be missing. While last week's opening period was encouraging you can forgive Danny Lennon for going with a less attacking line-up this time around due to having a few more bodies at his disposal.
But it's not just his defensive options that have been boosted as Dougie Imrie is allowed out to play again before going back in the stands on Wednesday. The problem is to work out who you drop from last week. The likes of Steven Thompson, Paul McGowan and goalscorers Nigel Hasselbaink and Graham Carey had good days in Gorgie and all deserve to keep their places. Imrie will probably come in for Kenny McLean who is injured again, while one of Steven Thomson and Gary Teale could sit it out to allow Imrie to start. Darren McGregor and Jeroen Tesselaar are both definitely out.
St Johnstone's fine display in the league this season has come despite them losing manager Derek McInnes early doors. There were plenty of candidates for the job and Steve Lomas didn't exactly seem the obvious one, considering he had hardly any managerial experience. However, you can't argue with what he has managed to get his side to produce since he took over a few months from the end of last year and European football is a possibility thanks to the implosion at Ibrox. They should have been in the last eight of the Scottish Cup as well had Hearts not fluked their way through the replay - hopefully a fate that won't befall us on Wednesday night!
Francisco Sandaza has been the stand out performer for the Saintees this season. Signed on a free in the summer, the Spaniard had shown flashes of brilliance while with Dundee United but had struggled with injuries. Once he got himself fully fit he was almost unstoppable and has banged in 15 goals this season. That saw him attract interest from Rangers during the summer but, unsurprisingly, they couldn't afford a fee. No doubt Sandaza was pleased to stay at McDairmid Park considering what's been happening at Ibrox recently and a move to bigger things will surely follow when his contract expires in the summer.
Sandaza has formed a rather impressive SAS partnership with Cillian Sheridan this season, although nowhere they're near as good as the similarly monikered link-up between Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton at Blackburn in the mid 1990s. Thankfully former Football Manager legend Sheridan is suspended for this game after some naughtiness against Kilmarnock last time out. Unfortunately, the Saintees have a few other decent forward players, having signed Spurs' Kudos Oyenuga and Celtic's James Keatings on loan in January. They also signed Lee Croft from Derby who has made an impressive impact so far - and not just because he's going out with someone from that god awful Essex show.
St Johnstone's capture of Peter Enckelman and Jody Morris a few years ago perhaps highlights the frustration and, dare I say it, jealousy St Mirren fans have with the calibre of players the two clubs are able to attract. Morris makes things tick in midfield and should arguably still be in the Championship, while Enckelman is reasonably solid and doesn't make so many howlers these days. Callum Davidson was the latest big name signing in the summer although that was slightly different as the veteran fullback started his career in Perth.
He's not the only Davidson at the club, midfielder Murray getting back to his goalscoring best this year after approaches form Rangers were rebuffed in the summer. He's scored against us in the past and is one of many talented youngsters who have come through the ranks at Livingston in recent years. David Mackay was also plucked from Almondvale a few years ago, while Liam Craig has been a revelation in midfield since being brought in from Falkirk. He scored against us in Love Street's final Scottish Cup tie - a horrific St Mirren performance that hopefully won't be repeated tomorrow, Wednesday night or indeed ever again.
Follow Mirren Mad on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mirrenmad
Follow Mirren Mad on Twitter @mirren_mad or http://www.twitter.com/mirren_mad