Tough team selections are the norm for St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright these days.
Competition for places is one of the main reasons that the Perth boss has committed his long term future to the club.
But arguably picking a starting line-up has never been more difficult than it will be for the clash with Partick Thistle tomorrow.
If you’re coming off the back of a 5-1 thrashing of the league leaders, there’s a very strong case to put the same XI out again.
However, on the flip side of the coin, Wright has three of his best players available to him who were all sidelined at Aberdeen a fortnight ago.
So it wouldn’t be a shock if Alan Mannus, Chris Millar and Michael O’Halloran are all back in the team at McDiarmid Park this weekend.
“Michael’s trained,” Wright reported. “Chrissie Millar is fit and Alan Mannus is available after his suspension.
“They’re good decisions I’ve got to make because it shows the strength I have in the squad.
“That was probably the main reason I was happy to extend my contract. The majority of that squad is signed up for another season after this.
“I’ve made my mind up on the team I’m going to play.”
Zander Clark has put in two faultless displays after Mannus was sent off against Dundee United.
“Zander’s done well,” Wright admitted. “And Alan’s done well for three-and-a-half seasons. He’s consistently one of the top goalkeepers in the country.
“As I’ve said before, I’m never afraid to make decisions and they’ll be based on what I think is best for the team.”
It goes without saying that Wright hopes his team will be able to pick up where they left off at Pittodrie before the international break.
He said: “We had three great results before the break, and that should give the players the confidence to kick on.
“The three wins epitomised what the team is about. There was a lot of quality at Rangers, against Dundee United was about grit, determination and desire to get a result, and then we were clinical at Aberdeen.
“We’ve put ourselves in a really good position. If you look at the table we’re only three points off third.
“There’s an opportunity to build.”
The transformation of Steven MacLean into a free-scoring striker has been one of the stories of the season so far for Saints.
Wright noted:“It’s down to being injury free, which is a big plus. It’s been well documented that over the last couple of seasons he’s been hampered by injury.
“But, I’m repeating myself, but I think it’s down to competition for places as well.
“He’s getting into good positions and the team’s creating more chances. He’s proved that he is a goalscorer as well as a very good link-up man.”
Wright is wary of the threat tomorrow’s visitors, themselves full of confidence after a 3-0 defeat of Dundee United, will pose.
“I’ve watched quite a few of their games and there problem has been scoring goals,” he said. “They create chances but they’ve only got six goals, three of which were in their last game.
“We don’t underestimate anybody. We’ve got to earn the right to play against Partick.
“The positive thing is we’re creating a lot of chances just now and being clinical.”