Steve Lomas targets minimum of two wins to secure a top-six place

The Perth side have six games remaining before the 12-team league is divided in half, beginning against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this afternoon, where plenty is at stake. In a congested table, fourth-placed Saints are seven points ahead of eighth-placed Kilmarnock, who are currently four points behind sixth-placed Hearts.

Lomas said: “It’s a big game for us, a big game for Kilmarnock. I think the split’s worked very well. It keeps mid-table alive going for something so I think it’s been a positive. It’s all to play for. We still think we need at least two wins to be in that top six.”

Kilmarnock, who meet Celtic in the Scottish Communities League Cup final later this month, beat Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox last month, but then lost 4-0 to Dundee United and 3-1 at home to 11th-placed Hibernian in their last two outings ahead of today’s game. Lomas added: “They have had a couple of indifferent results after a great win away at Rangers, but they’ve got cup final places to play for. I expect a very tough game. They’ve got some decent players. I thought Dean Shiels was excellent in the first half for Northern Ireland [against Norway on Wednesday] and well deserved after the season he’s had.

“We know we’re going to have to be on our mettle to get anything from the game, but our away form isn’t bad so we go there with no fear.”

Killie, too, have hopes of finishing in the top six and midfielder Danny Racchi is eager for the Ayrshire side to return to winning ways this weekend.

“After the Rangers game we were on a high and we were setting ourselves up nicely to finish in the top-six finish but conceding seven goals in two games has set us back,” said Racchi. “But hopefully, going into the St Johnstone game, we can get a few more points on the board and comfortably finish in the top six.”