The league campaign doesn’t start for a fortnight but Steven MacLean has already put the finishing touches to his preparations.
The veteran striker netted a weekend winner against National League side Hartlepool in a low-key work-out in front of 1,117 fans.
With Saturday’s final friendly away to East Fife and the opening fixture on the road at Kilmarnock both being played on artificial surfaces, MacLean will have to be patient before going to work.
Manager Tommy Wright is keen to make two more signings, with a decision to be made on French trialist Roman Habran.
The Saints manager also wants to bring in an experienced striker but first pick attacker MacLean insists he will relish any challenge for the jersey.
“We are itching to get going. We are raring to go,” he said.
“We aren’t exactly killing time but the gap since Europe has been frustrating.
“There has been a lull but we have responded well in games against Sunderland, Rangers and in fits and starts against Hartlepool.”
MacLean’s 11th minute headed winner was teed-up by Paris Saint-Germain winger Habran, who was cheered from the field when he limped off after an hour to be replaced by Blair Alston.
“You can tell Romain has something about him. The kid has ability but the decision will be down to the manager,” said MacLean.
“He comes from a different country obviously and they have a different style in France from here. If he signs we will have to work on him to make sure he adapts.
“I think we need a couple of players. We have a decent squad but it would be good to get in a bit of quality to help us.
“If another striker comes in that’s fine by me. I’m certainly not done and I would look on that as a challenge. If anything, it will spur me on if we get in another forward.”
Manager Wright was playing his cards close to his chest over the prospects of Habran becoming one of the two signings he wants to strengthen the squad.
“We will talk and see what road we go down with Romain. There will be a lot of factors which determine whether we sign him or not,” he maintained.
“He has done himself no harm in the 10 days he has been here.
“Romain speaks little bit of English so that hasn’t been a major problem for him.
“What you see in the games is what he has done in training. He is quick, he has good feet, he works hard and you can see he has had a good level of coaching.”
Summer recruit from Sheffield United Stefan Scougall was at the heart of Saints’ most creative play against the colourfully nicknamed “Monkey Hangers.”
He picked out Habran to set-up the goal and also got forward to test Hartlepool keeper Scott Loach soon after the interval with a low drive.
MacLean said: “Stefan hasn’t played much football this year so he might need time to get up to pace.
“He will be a huge asset. You can see his quality.”
Saints dominated rivals from south of the border who featured former Inverness Caley Thistle defender Louis Laing and while they clocked up a third successive clean sheet Wright’s men should have won by a bigger margin to reflect their territorial dominance.
David Wotherspoon, Liam Gordon, Richard Foster and substitute Chris Kane all came close to adding to MacLean’s goal.
Keeper Alan Mannus was summoned into action just once, tipping a 25-yard free-kick delivered by Nicky Deverdics over the crossbar.
