Livi are four points adrift of the Perth men, so a win for Saints will see them go further clear and, depending on the result at Gretna, close up on one or both of the top two.

As he reflected back on the disappointment of Wednesday, Saints player-boss Owen Coyle remarked, “How we got only a point against Ross County is beyond me. After our poor display against Airdrie United, I got a reaction in Dingwall.

“In the first half in particular, we played some good football — but we just didn’t take some of the chances which came our way and that cost us.”

A straight red card for the handball offence which led to Ross County’s late equalising penalty means Paul Lawson misses out tomorrow.

Steven Milne, Simon Mensing and Martin Hardie are again nursing knocks but Owen is hoping they’ll be OK.

“If we play as we did in the first half at Dingwall, we’ll be OK,” added Owen who is set to give another starting berth to ex-Livi man Goran Stanic, who has had a fine season.

In the previous meeting between the sides this season, the spoils were shared in an Almondvale draw.

Saints’ skipper Kevin James was taken off that day with knee and ankle injuries, but, after a lengthy period sidelined, he was on the bench against Ross County. He could be there again tomorrow.

Likely to be leaving McDiarmid in the transfer window is Darren Sheridan, who wants a club nearer his Manchester home.

The first 1800 Saints fans through the turnstiles tomorrow will receive a voucher for a ticket to the CIS Cup semi against Hibs at Tynecastle on January 31,