The Soccerbase stats show he has been refereeing league games for over a decade, so he has plenty of experience to call upon. However, this is only his second Saints game of the season, the first coming way back in August when Dundee United came to Paisley. The game ended goalless and there were few incidents of note for Mr McDonald to deal with.
His fairly lengthy record involving Saints was covered in detail back then so there's no point going over it again. Instead, just click here to see the preview for that match: http://www.stmirren-mad.co.uk/roll/ed16/know_the_ref__dundee_united_home_458599/index.shtml
Unsurprisingly, Mr McDonald also has a pretty lengthy record when it comes to games with Motherwell. Like Saints, both 'Well games where he has been an official this season have ended in draws. One was a 2-2 game at St. Johnstone, the other a 0-0 match at home to Rangers - who had Madjid Bougherra for committing a foul inside the box late on. Motherwell missed the penalty.
Last season he did five Motherwell games, with ones against Kilmarnock, Inverness Caley Thistle and Dundee United also ending in draws. The others were a 1-0 defeat at Parkhead in which David Clarkson was dismissed and a narrow home win over Hamilton. 2007/08 was pretty poor as his four games yielded just four points for otherwell in the form of a draw and a win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The other matches saw a home thumping by Falkirk and a Saints 3-1 win at Love Street.
Things get even worse when you go back to the previous season, this time five games producing just four points thanks to a home win over Dunfermline and a draw against Dundee United in which someone called Steven Robb sent off and Paul Quinn was sent off for the Steelmen. The other games saw wins for Hibs, Aberdeen and Dunfermline. The latter was particular controversial as three players were sent off - two of them in Motherwell colours - and each side winning a penalty.
The only win Motherwell recorded in 2005/06 with Mr McDonald was at home to Aberdeen, the visitors having Zander Diamond sent off. The other three games saw wins for Kilmarnock, Hibs and Caley Thistle - with Craig Dargo scoring the winner. Motherwell also had a player sent off in that game. Things are slightly better in 04/05, Motherwell beating Dundee United and also putting Hearts out of the League Cup semi-final with the help of extra time and a penalty. There was also a draw with Livingston and two 3-2 defeats to the Old Firm. Motherwell got a penalty in each one while Barry Ferguson was sent off in the game against Rangers.
2003/04 starts with an embarrassing cup defeat to Forfar on penalties while the other games see a win, a draw and a defeat against Motherwell, Rangers and Dunfermline respectively. Motherwell's miserable 2002/03 season, in which they finished bottom of the SPL, is also reflected in their results with Mr McDonald in charge. They won just two of the six games - one against Stranraer in the Scottish Cup and the other on the least, meaningless day against Livingston. They drew one of the others against Dundee, were humped by Celtic and had three players sent off against Hibs at Easter Road. They also had a man sent off when Aberdeen won at Fir Park thanks to a penalty.
Soccerbase claims there was just one Motherwell game for this official in 2001/02 and they won 2-0 against St. Johnstone. However, it should be remembered the Saintees were rotten that season. The previous season saw them win at Love Street (not difficult) and get hammered by Dundee, both teams having a man sent off. It's a similar story in 1999/2000, with what Soccerbase claims is Mr McDonald's first Motherwell game seeing a 4-1 Dundee win in which James Grady (Dundee) and Jamie McGowan (Motherwell and future Saint) sent off.
Overall, it seems Motherwell don't have the best of records with Mr McDonald in charge. Let's hope that continues on Saturday.