| Saints go into the match with a win and a draw from their opening two fixtures, while the Pars have a win and a defeat to their name.
Both are desperate to get back into the SPL and, even at this early stage, a win is vital.
Saints’ injuries are clearing, but Dunfermline are likely to be without hamstring strain victim Scott Thomson and also Steven Bell who is lacking match practice following his knee operation.
However, Kevin Harper, who has also been suffering a hamstring strain, looks like being in contention.
Alan Main, Steven Anderson and Collin Samuel are fit again and could be in the home line-up. Saints absentees are Jody Morris and Kevin Moon, who are still on the injured list.
The Perth men look certain to have Kevin James back at the heart of their defence. The towering central defender is in his 17th season as a professional and, despite a number of injuries over the past few seasons, states he’s “feeling fine.”
He added, “I had a minor groin strain a few weeks ago, but it has cleared up.
“The chairman has allowed the manager to spend, so the pressure is on us to deliver promotion. That’s a real challenge and a pressure we enjoy.
“Finishing top is definitely what we’re aiming for and tough games like tomorrow’s are ones we need to win.
“Winning our opening league match at home to Livi was a great boost and it kept our good home record going. Only Clyde beat us at McDiarmid in league and cup last season and, the season before, only Livi were able to do that. We’ve made McDiarmid a fortress and want to keep it that way.”
Saints have two players on international duty next week. Keeper Euan McLean is with the Scotland U/21s in Lithuania and striker Andy Jackson is with the Republic of Ireland U/21s in Austria. |
