I'm not quite sure why the SPL insists on having midweek games after the split. There's no real rush to get the season finished and with a number of teams having meaningless matches shoving some in on a Wednesday night is hardly going to help the attendance figures. At least they've been kind this time and instead of a lengthy trip to Aberdeen or Inverness we have a short hop down to Ayrshire. We've only managed two away wins all season and none since October, a record that is in dire need of some improvement.
The fact this should be a decent game should ensure the crowd is a wee bit bigger than it otherwise would have been. Both teams like to try to play football rather than assemble their men behind the ball and leave them there, which may explain why it was against Killie we managed to end our long wait for a win. That would have been a cracking game regardless of the result and the same goes for September's meeting when we won 3-0. Neither scoreline accurately reflected the game, although we probably deserved to win them both, so the hardy souls who turn out tomorrow will hopefully be treated to a cracker.
This isn't the first time we've gone to Rugby Park for a midweek game after the split but this time around there is no need for loo roll or a supply of fresh underwear. Back in 2009 we were in the process of chucking away an apparently safe looking position and continued in that vein when we lost to Kilmarnock after a shocking performance - which was then followed up by one of the best displays from any Saints team ever a few days later as we destroyed Falkirk and stay up. With nothing to play for but pride, points and positions tomorrow night it should be slightly more relaxed - and thankfully our defence won't be bullied by Kevin Kyle this time around.
Despite winning on Sunday against Hibs we won't be able to go with a "same again" approach as Marc McAusland is suspended. Fortunately, Darren McGregor is now fit and should slot straight in alongside Lee Mair. It's also likely Dougie Imrie will start as he helped set up the only goal of the TV game and Graham Carey is the most likely candidate to make way. I'm a big fan of the Irish winger but he wasn't at his best at the weekend and perhaps needs a spell on the bench.
Nigel Hasselbaink seems to like playing against Kilmarnock, having scored twice against them so far this season, and will hopefully keep his place despite being subbed on Sunday. Steven Thompson and Paul McGowan, who had arguably his worst game of the season against Hibs, have also had braces against Killie this season so we have plenty of attacking threat. Everyone apart from McAusland should be available although youngsters Thomas Reilly and Jason Naismith will probably be on the bench once again, with David Barron once again sitting it out despite being fit again.
Kilmarnock may be going to finish lower than last season - having made it to the top six in 2011 - but if you're old fashioned like me and still regard trophies as more important than league positions they've had a far more successful season. That's because they managed to win the League Cup in March, seeing off Celtic and prompting the predictable explosion from Neil Lennon into the bargain. Kenny Shiels will be a club legend whatever else he does at Rugby Park although he was already set for cult status due to his willingness to speak honestly to the media. The "He says what he wants" chants form the Killie support during their visit to Paisley last month were quite amusing. Saturday's entertaining victory over Inverness Caley Thistle also makes a top of the bottom half finish look pretty likely, with both ourselves and Aberdeen currently four points behind.
Mixu Paatelainen seemed to give Kilmarnock a bit of a United Nations look to them when he was in charge and Shiels has continued in that vein. Aside from having players from the UK and Republic of Ireland, Killie also have a Belgian - Dieter Van Tornhout scoring the cup winning goal - David Silva (not that one), who is Portuguese, Frenchman Mohamadou Sissoko - who seems unable to cope with Nigel Hasselbaink despite the size difference - William Gros, who is from Reunion, Czech defender Zdenek Kroca and an Italian skipper in the shape of Manuel Pascali, who is injured. Oh, and one of their keepers is from Finland. Phew!
But for all that they still rely on a good number of Scots. Cammy Bell was in top form during the cup final as he kept Celtic at bay, while Gary Harkins has been pulling the strings with ease in the middle of the park all season. Garry Hay and James Fowler are club stalwarts who would have found the cup final glory extra special, although sadly it had more than a hint of sadness for Liam Kelly, whose dad suffered a fatal heart attack at full-time. It was nice to see all supporters give him a good ovation when he returned to action against Saints a few weeks ago.
Goals from two men from the Emerald Isle have also played a huge part in Kilmarnock's season. Paul Heffernan's record down south didn't seem too impressive but he's fair banged in the goals at Rugby Park this season, managing 15 so far. From Northern Ireland comes Dean Shiels - son of the manager - who has adapted well after returning to Scottish football from Doncaster. He has only one goal less than Heffernan this season after bagging a double against Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday and is in the running for the PFA Player of the Year award. It'll be interesting to see if Kilmarnock can keep the former Hibs man beyond the summer - and whether his dad is still talking to him if he decides to go elsewhere!
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