Many people believe the SPL to be Saints rightful place in Scottish football, and when you look at the club's history it's easy to see why. However, we've only spent one year in the past 15 in Scotland's top division. We've earnt our place in the SPL for the next twelve months, now let's make sure that come May we've earnt ourselves another twelve.
The task begins tomorrow, and Caley Thistle's ground hasn't been a happy place for Saints in the past. In fact, games against Caley haven't been great regardless of where they've been played. We've beaten them just three times and been humped countless others. Two managers, Tom Hendrie and John Coughlin, have both been booted out following 4-0 gubbings at Caley's hands at Love Street.
Whilst the Saints team has changed a lot since those days, Caley's has not. There will be a lot of familiar faces on show, such as Mark Brown, Stuart McCaffrey and Barry Wilson, although thankfully Paul Ritchie left a few years ago. However, there is one man in particular who Saints fans are looking forward to seeing tomorrow, although not for the right reasons. Step forward Ross Tokely.
Tokely played in his testimonial game a few weeks ago and looks like being fit enough to play tomorrow. Chances are, he'll be abused from the first minute to the last by the Saints support. Almost exactly seven years ago, his disgraceful challenge on Chris Kerr put the Saints player out for over a year and effectively ended his career. Tokely was sent off, but it's an incident that has not been forgotten.
Only one Saints player remains from our last spell in the SPL and he should start tomorrow. Hugh Murray has been at Saints all his career (aside from a brief spell in 2002) and will be hoping for a better time than he had in 2000/01. Simon Lappin was also at the club that season, but wasn't close to the first team.
Garry Brady, Richard Brittain and Alex Burke are all set for their Saints debuts, although Stuart Balmer will probably miss out. Brian McGinty picked up an injury against Partick Thistle during the week and looks likely not to play. Sadly, the same also goes for Andy Millen and he won't become the oldest ever outfield player in SPL history, although the record will surely come to him sometime this season.
A major topic for discussion over the summer has been the formation Saints will go with. 3-5-2 has worked well for the past few years, however Saints boss Gus MacPherson prefers a 4-4-2 formation. His attempts to go with a left back have failed, but it looks likely he'll opt for that anyway, with Kirk Broadfoot at left back and Richard Brittain on the right wing.
Let's hope whatever he goes with works and we get off to a good start!