Scoring a winning goal against Celtic will always be a career highlight, whatever the circumstances.
But if St Johnstone striker Graham Cummins manages to repeat the feat this afternoon, he knows it will have a much bigger impact.
Unbeaten domestically, the all-conquering Hoops are running out of challengers before the Premiership season ends.
The difference between Brendan Rodgers’ present day Celtic and the Ronny Deila side Cummins and co got the better of a year ago does not need to be spelled out to the former Preston North End man.
“Celtic are a totally different side from the team which we beat when they came here last year after the split,” he said.
“They weren’t in top gear and I don’t think this side will go into this match with the same mentality.
“It is going to be a much tougher game.
“A few weeks ago when they drew at home to Rangers I thought they might be slacking off. But watching them beat Rangers 5-1 at the weekend that was probably their best performance of the season – even better than the same scoreline at Celtic Park.
“You just wonder – can they keep improving?”
Cummins added: “I don’t think their levels will drop after playing two Old Firm games. Because when we played them in Perth and it was 3-2 then 4-2 but they weren’t dropping off.
“Some teams would decide they had done the job. But they kept pressing. They are ruthless. That is their mentality.
“When they got their fifth against us I remember Scott Brown saying that had to go hit six and seven. That’s where they are at compared to last year.
“We know it is going to be the toughest game we’re going to play after the split. But if we can go there and put in a performance we might get something out of it.”
Saints certainly aren’t lacking for self-belief. Aberdeen away is the second most daunting fixture on the Premiership card and they have just won that one. And they’re also on a long unbeaten top six record over the last three seasons that even Celtic would be proud of.
“Their unbeaten run will end eventually,” said Cummins. “Of course it has to end at some stage. It would be brilliant if it was against us.
“Someone will make a name for themselves when the run does end. But they will want to get through the league season unbeaten and go into the cup final full of confidence, not that they are lacking that just now.
“And if we can beat them this season it would be a much better achievement that last year.
“We are being written off but that suits us. We went up to Aberdeen and won and they have a great home record.
“We are well organised and experienced. Nothing fazes us, even going to Celtic Park. We won’t have any fear.
“We will believe there is a chance there for us to get something. We were unfortunate to lose there earlier in the season.”
Celtic players have dominated the player of the year nominations and Cummins can understand why. And there are a couple of their players who didn’t make the shortlist but had strong claims.
“Going for the player of the year is tough,” he said. “I’d have said Tom Rogic earlier in the season but he has had trouble with injuries. His performance against us was one of the best I have seen all season. For me, he is the best player in the league on his day.
“But over the course of the year it would be Scott Sinclair with his goals from midfield. He has scored important goals, like the one against Hearts on the first day of the season. That got them rolling and they haven’t looked back.”
As far as Saints’ best performer of the season is concerned, Cummins has gone for his striker-partner, Steven MacLean.
“My player of the year would be Macca,” he said. “He is such a leader. He has scored a lot of goals but he does so much more.
“When I play next to him Macca makes me a better player because he talks you through the 90 minutes. I still think people underrate just how good he is. He is still improving and he’s so intelligent. He’s even better this year than last.
“I miss him when he isn’t playing, like at Aberdeen. I found myself thinking ‘what would Macca be saying to me in any situation?’”
MacLean is back from suspension but Chris Millar is injured.
