Hibs' John Hughes and Liam Miller given green light to take their places at last match in front of old East Terrace

Hughes had looked destined to watch the match from the stand after landing a six-match touchline ban, but will be able to take his usual place in the technical area after Hibs lodged an appeal against the severity of the suspension.

The influential Miller, meanwhile, is celebrating a reprieve from the Scottish Football Association after the red card he received in the 1-0 defeat at Motherwell last Saturday was downgraded to a caution, allowing him to enter Hughes' team plans today.

Miller was sent off, with the score still 0-0, for a first-half foul on Jim O'Brien which sparked a melee involving players from both sides. Referee Euan Norris showed the Irishman the red card, but having looked at the offence again, it has been decided that only a yellow card was merited.

Hughes will have to wait to learn the outcome of his appeal, incurred after he was sent to the stand during Hibs' 5-1 thrashing at the hands of today's opponents in Perth earlier this month.

Hibs have made representations on behalf of Hughes, arguing that the six-match touchline ban – based on a 'totting-up' procedure taking into account his conduct with previous club Falkirk – is too harsh.

Hughes himself has said this week: "Why should Hibs be punished for what I did at my old club three years ago?"

A combination of the East Terrace's last stand, and a minute's applause following the recent deaths of 1970s Hibs favourites Alan Gordon and Bobby Smith, will make this afternoon an emotion-charged day for Hibs.

Colin Nish is available after serving the first instalment of a staggered three-match suspension, while Kevin McBride has recovered from the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games, all of which should allow Hughes to field a strong side for a match they simply have to win for practical, rather than sentimental reasons.

The Easter Road side remain in third place despite losing their past three SPL matches and dropping 11 out of the last 12 points available, but Dundee United and Motherwell are both snapping at their heels in the race for an automatic European place, and Hughes knows there is no room for another slip-up against St Johnstone, who have won two out of the three meetings between the sides this season.

"We know what we need to do against St Johnstone," said Hughes. "We've played them three times this season so can't be under any illusions. They've beaten us twice, home and away, and even in the game we won we perhaps had the rub of the green a bit.

"We have to get down to work. We are at Easter Road and I know my players react to these home stands full of supporters who are right behind them, and I hope that will make all the difference this week and going forward."

St Johnstone travel to Leith high on confidence following their previous 5-1 win over Hibs but last week's home game against Rangers was frozen off. However, manager Derek McInnes warned his side of an immediate backlash from the home side – just as St Johnstone did to Hibs earlier in the season. The Perth side lost 3-0 at Easter Road in the SPL on 19 September, only to quickly make amends three days later with a 3-1 win at the same venue in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

McInnes said: "In the league game we lost at Hibs we played okay and had a few chances but they were clinical in their finishing and they have players who can do that. We bounced back in the cup game and managed to get a result.

"They will be fired up for this game and looking for a reaction.

"I have a huge respect for Hibs and John Hughes, he is driving the club forward and he will make them successful.

"Our performance in the 5-1 game against them was very good and the players should feel confident.

"The challenge for us is to produce a similar performance and we will strive to do that and if we do that then I am confident that we can get a positive result."