“Both are still carrying knocks and are doubtful. They are, however, improving all the time and I haven’t ruled them out,” said Saints’ team boss Derek McInnes.

Long term casualties Kevin James, Martin Hardie and Daniel McBreen have trained all week and also came through the reserve win over East Fife.

They are in the squad and in Derek’s thoughts, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll start or be on the substitutes’ bench.

Saints have another reserve match fixed up, against Livingston next week at a venue still to be decided, and this will give the trio a further chance of match practice.

Although Saints’ chance of elevation to the SPL has gone, Derek wants to finish with as many points as possible and, with Saints only suffering one defeat at home this season, they are keen to keep that good record going.

Morton, who Derek spent nine years with as a player, are in the fight to escape the drop to the Second Division, so the McDiarmid Park outfit know they’re in for a tough game.

Gary Irvine will again be in the thick of the action for the home side.

The former Celtic and Ross County full-back or midfield man has been a fixture in Saints’ side this season and Derek is pleased with the way he’s progressing.

“At Celtic, he was playing mostly reserve football but now he’s stepped up from that to the First Division with us and done well,” said Derek.

GREG MISSES OUT

Dunfermline take on Clyde at home tomorrow and, like Saints, they know they’re in for a hard game against another side battling to beat the drop.

Out of the Pars’ line-up is defender Greg Shields who looks like missing the remainder of the season with a calf strain.

Dunfermline team boss Jim McIntyre is urging his side to “do as well as you can”.

His first match as boss of the Pars was at home against Clyde in December when the match finished 1-1 — and Jim is trusting for better tomorrow.