It's a fortnight since we last played so there is the potential for our players to be a little rusty, but the recent trip to Spain should hopefully mean it isn't a major problem. That little adventure, combined with the superb Celtic win, will hopefully have helped with team bonding and should ensure that spirits in the dressing room are high. We desperately need the players to be fully committed for the next few games and not let the upcoming Scottish Cup semi be a distraction.
Most folk would have liked to see the same side start tomorrow's game that beat Celtic, but that can't happen as Hugh Murray is suspended. Gary Mason would be the obvious replacement but he, along with Mark Howard and Will Haining, has supposedly turned down a new contract and his inclusion is far from certain. The good news is that Scott Cuthbert is available again, but he may have to make do with a place on the bench after Haining's good show against the Bhoys.
Things have to stay the same up front. The Billy Mehmet and Craig Dargo partnership is finally looking like delivering and the combination of physical presence and pace they provide should cause any SPL defence problems. Hopefully, with taking something from the game absolutely vital, manager Gus MacPherson won't revert to his old ways and go with a single striker as it would be utter madness. On the injury front, Marc McAusland is back but Steven Robb, Stephen O'Donnell, Franco Miranda and Tom Brighton are all still out.
Hamilton were today expected to complete the signing of former Senegal captain Lamine Diatta, which would be a real coup for them. If the deal is completed, he could well start in defence alongside the influential Mark McLaughlin. The Accies have enjoyed a superb season after winning the first division last year, with many of their younger players showing why they are so sought after. James McCarthy is obviously the main star, after attracting interest from some of Europe's top clubs, while the likes of James McArthur and keeper Tomas Cerny have also done well.
Hamilton are likely to go with two up front tomorrow in the shape of Richard Offiong and Kenny Deuchar. Offiong was superb in the first division last season and has done reasonably well this term, while Deuchar is just back in Scotland after a spell in America. While he hasn't scored yet for his new club, he bagged plenty of goals for Gretna and is a player I'd have liked us to sign in January.
Depending how things go tomorrow afternoon, we could find ourselves eight points clear of 12th place or two. The players must give their all on the pitch to ensure the gap is no smaller than it currently is by the end by producing the same sort of performance we saw against Celtic.