It really is that simple - which is perhaps why I'm worried. Win and we're safe. Draw and we're as good as save. Our destiny is in our own hands - and it's in these situations we often screw up. Remember the game against Dunfermline four years ago when we could take a massive step to survival and blew it? How about Falkirk before the split last season? Or the utter calamity that was the end of the season below. We just don't do simple things. So, while it looks relatively straightforward, chances are we'll try to make it as hard as possible for ourselves.
This game should not be at St Mirren Park. It should be at New Douglas Park. However, as we were due four away games and one home game after the split and Hamilton the opposite, the SPL had to do something. So, rather than give us three home games against Inverness Caley Thistle or Hibs and send Hamilton there again, they just switched our game. That is grossly unfair on Accies. We suffered a similar problem last year when we had to go to Falkirk three times and it was disgraceful. Unsurprisingly, our board have been rather quiet about things this time around. That day at Westfield we were fired up by injustice and it wouldn't be a surprise if Hamilton reacted the same way - plus they have reached the do or die stage for them.
Another thing unfair in the scheduling of this game is the fact it's on a Monday at 3pm. While it's a bank holiday, not everyone gets it - I've had to take a day off to go to the game. And why on earth do ESPN want to show this? The only people interested will be Saints and Hamilton fans, who'll either be at the game or at work! After other events this season I suppose we shouldn't be surprised as it's obvious the SPL and the TV companies don't care about the fans.
The last time we played Hamilton after the split, it was a rather dire, goalless draw at New Douglas Park - and it was live on TV. There's little chance of this game being like that tomorrow. With the current standings, a draw would be fine, but we have to go for the win. When we last played Hamilton exactly a month ago, it was clear we were in must not lose mode, rather than must win. As a result, we were awful for the first hour. When Danny Lennon changed things around and made us more attacking, we suddenly came alive, bagged three goals and took all three points. Adopt the same attitude and we should be fine - but playing to avoid a defeat is simply not the option.
Michael Higdon is back from suspension and quite simply has to be in from the start. We are far, far more dangerous when he is in the side - and he is interested - so putting him in from the off is a bit of a no brainer. In truth, picking the team is easy. Take last week's team, put Higdon in for Jim Goodwin and tell them to go for it. That would see us field the same 11 players who were so good against Aberdeen in the cup and tormented Hamilton last month. It is the sensible option, the right balance between attacking ability and defensive nous. Sadly, I have a horrible feeling we'll play all three of Goodwin, Steven Thomson and Hugh Murray.
Not that I'm against the inclusion of Shuggy - because it would mean he has broken the club record for highest number of first team appearances. 13 years ago tomorrow he was banging in a blockbuster at Forthbank that sent Stirling down, kept us up and kept us alive as a club. Who'd have thought 13 years later we'd be on the brink of securing a sixth successive SPL season - and Shuggy would still be here? It's a terrific achievement for him, especially when you consider the number of times he has been written off in the past few years.
Hamilton find themselves in an unusual position at this stage of the season. In the last two years, relegation hasn't been an issue and they have often been pushing to finish as high up in the bottom six as they can. This time, they find themselves fighting for their lives and nothing short of victory will do for them tomorrow. A draw will keep them alive, but it would require a huge swing in the goal difference. I don't quite understand why they've ended up in this position as their squad didn't change that much in the summer - aside from the sale of James McArthur and departure of James Wesolowski- and the signings manager Billy Reid made should only have made things better.
Our last game against Hamilton saw us finally end a shocking run of form against them - but we were helped by suspensions. Hamilton had to make do without Mark McLaughlin, Dougie Imrie and Simon Mensing. All three are hugely important players and all three would have started if they had been available. Imrie is an annoying wee player I'd love to have in our team and often causes us problems, McLaughlin is a solid centre half and Mensing can play anywhere. With these three players in their side, Hamilton will be a completely different team - and this could be a completely different match.
A month ago we had a good laugh when one of the Paixao brothers missed a sitter just before half-time, but there won't be a repeat of that tomorrow as both halves of Scottish football's Jedward tribute act have been told to do one - the Hamilton chairman amusingly referring to them as "non-achievers". A few others have also been told where to go, but Reid still has a strong squad at his disposal. Alex Neil is a player I wouldn't mind seeing at Saints and was a huge loss for Hamilton earlier in the season, while former Morton man Jim McAlister would no doubt love to inflict some pain.
Hamilton have got some pretty handy options up front and in defence. Nigel Hasselbaink has pace, power and control - the sort of things our defence hate to deal with - while Mickael Antoine-Curier has been in decent form since his return to the club. At the back they have guys like Martin Cannon, McLaughlin, David Elebert and keeper Tomas Cerny - who was sent off against us a couple of years ago. Unsurprisingly, his dismissal didn't really help us.
Do or die time for Hamilton then - let's just hope we can put them out of their misery.
Follow Mirren Mad on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mirren-Mad/177833938918587
Follow Mirren Mad on Twitter @mirren_mad or http://www.twitter.com/mirren_mad