Unlike Boxing Day, when we were sent to Inverness, some thought had obviously gone into this fixture. With it set down for New Year's Day, the powers that be reckoned it made sense to give teams fixtures against sides they are pretty close to - hence we're playing Kilmarnock. Sadly, we have been robbed of a New Year's Day game at the last minute because the club couldn't sell hospitality.
Anyway, enough of that, let's concentrate on the game. We started 2010 against Killie at home and managed to get a win. Back then, they weren't very good and were probably about our level. However, they have improved greatly this season and this will be a much tougher game. They've already beaten us once this season, during a September that saw us lose four games out of four. But if we want to to try to push on and get some points on the board ahead of our traditionally shocking form before the split, we really need to take something from this game - especially after Wednesday's disappointing display.
For the first time in 44 matches, we will not start a match with John Potter in defence. The captain has been ever present since last November and I'm rather baffled as to how he has managed to keep his place for so long, although I've been over that enough times in the past without boring everyone to death with it again. Almost certainly taking his place is Lee Mair, who is back fit again and is likely to be chucked in at the deep end. Not quite sure that's an improvement - although Mair can occasionally head the ball properly.
There could be another change to the team that lost on Wednesday as Paul McGowan went off injured early on. It's not been revealed yet how bad he is but if he's out, Craig Dargo could start once more. However, we now have Gareth Wardlaw back from suspension so don't be surprised if he is rushed straight back in. Also back is Hugh Murray, although I'd be surprised if he even makes the bench as he can't be fit enough. Aside from the McGowan and Potter changes, the only other potential alteration I can see is David Barron coming back in for David van Zanten. Nick Hegarty and Garry Brady are out while Steven Robb comes off the injured list as he's now left. Well, he was unlikely to get off it by getting fit!
Killie have spent the last few years trying to avoid the drop - a bit like us. During the summer they changed manager - a bit like us. Their chosen candidate was someone who was linked with the Saints job, but never seemed to be in the running. Step forward former Saint Mixu Paatelainen, who had been out of football for a year after leaving Hibs. He clearly put his time off to good use as his team have been flying along recently and look more likely to be pushing for a place in the top six than fighting the drop. Time will tell if we missed out a managerial genius.
At his previous clubs, Mixu has seemed to like having a big, powerful striker that remind him of himself. At Cowdenbeath he had Armand One and even made him look competent, while at Hibs he had Colin Nish. Now he has Conor Samon, who did next to nothing in his previous two years at Kilmarnock. Now it seems he can't stop scoring, prompting Mixu to remark that the secret to their success is to "Feed the fish and he will score". Nice.
Paatelainen also went on a recruitment drive during the summer although seemed to get confused when he signed players called Sissoko and Silva. Unfortunately for him, they are not the rather more famous players with the same names. David Silva is indeed a Spanish midfielder, but did not used to play for Valencia. Mahamadou Sissoko plays in defence and should not be confused with any of the others floating around. Mixu also used his contacts to land fellow Finn Aleksei Eremenko, who scored against us on his debut. Such has been his form that he's been linked with a move to Blackburn in January. Can't see it myself, but then Killie did try to convince Blackburn caretaker Steve Kean to be their new manager during the summer.
Mixu inherited some decent players when he arrived in the summer, chef among them being Craig Bryson. The midfielder is a real talent and was wanted by Hearts in the summer, so for him to stay at Rugby park was a real boost. Cammy Bell has developed into a decent keeper in the last few years and has been involved in the Scotland set-up, while Frazer Wright and Garry hay help form part of a tight back-line. In midfield, Liam Kelly has chipped in with a few goals - and also has a ridiculously long throw if Football Manager is to be trusted.
Not the easiest of starts to the New Year then, but the hardest either. Fingers crossed we can get a result to start 2011 off in style - even if it is two days late!