It's in these positions that we thrive. Look at how we hammered Motherwell in the cup three years ago when we were still in the first division. Look at what we did to Dundee United in another live Sky game at this stage last season - as opposed to the quarter-finals where we embarrassingly suffered yet another defeat to a lower league team. We may be at home, but few outside the St. Mirren camp seem to expect a home win - and we can use that to our advantage.
Unfortunately, our chances of progressing to the next round are affected by our lack of left sided players. Steven Robb joins Franco Miranda on the treatment bench after picking up an injury on Saturday, while Mo Camara is unavailable due to Scottish Cup rules. One possibility for the left side of midfield would have been Tom Brighton - but he's also injured. That leaves us with the grand choice of Tonet and Ryan McCay. Both have been told they are free to leave the club but one or both could be handed a shock recall. Realistically, that's unlikely to happen. An alternative would be for Stephen McGinn to return to midfield, Jack Ross move to left back and David Barron to play on the right. Or we might go for something else entirely. Considering we have another game on Saturday, it could be an interesting team selection.
While we have problems on the left, we shouldn't have the lack of strikers that saw youngster Sean Burns the only forward on the bench for Saturday's game against Falkirk. While Brighton is out, Craig Dargo and Jim Hamilton both featured for the reserves yesterday and are likely to make the squad. It's unlikely either will start, with Billy Mehmet set to partner Dennis Wyness once more. The only other injury problems are Will Haining, who is lacking match practice, and Stephen O'Donnell.
Motherwell have picked up their form a bit in recent weeks and are now a good few places above us in the table. They beat local rivals Hamilton on Saturday and seem confident of doing the same to us, although manager Mark McGhee seems to think penalties are almost a certainty tomorrow evening. They have a number of good players despite Chris Porter's recent departure, with Cillian Sheridan and David Clarkson capable of causing most teams problems and Stephen Hughes and Keith Lasley doing well in midfield.
No preview of a game against Motherwell would be complete without mentioning their former Saints players. John Sutton won the first division and League Challenge Cup with us, as well as scoring two goals in a famous 3-2 win at Fir Park in 2007 that saved us from relegation. Steven McGarry left us in 2002, having also won the first division with the club in a different year. Both have scored against us since they left, with Sutton notching one earlier this season.
This is a game we're capable of winning. Let's hope we do it in front of a big TV audience.