St Johnstone won’t be knocked off their stride by a St Mirren side scrapping for survival.
That is the confident prediction of Scott Tanser, who will join his teammates at a tense Simple Digital Arena this afternoon.
The Buddies will take a giant step towards avoiding automatic relegation should they beat the Perth Saints.
The Paisley men have only lost three of their last nine league games and can be considered one of the in-form teams in the Premiership.
They will be battling for every ball as they look to stay clear of Dundee but the visitors are also up for the fight despite being stress-free in seventh spot.
Tanser said: “We know what St Mirren are all about because we played them recently.
“They are fighting for their lives and they will be looking to catch Hamilton above them now.
“They are in decent form and have picked up some good points, while Hamilton, who have stalled in the last few weeks, have a tough game against Livingston.
“We have beaten them three times this season and we have to play as well as we did against Dundee to do so again.
“It will be tough but we won’t be fazed by them.”
Tanser certainly wasn’t fazed when facing another relegation-threatened team, Dundee, last Saturday, scoring a David Beckham-style freekick in a comfortable 2-0 win for his side.
He has also been voted in as the club’s new penalty taker, perhaps a poisoned chalice at a club that has missed six times from the spot this season.
What the full-back definitely won’t be doing is attempting a Panenka penalty like the one fluffed by St Mirren’s Simeon Jackson when the teams last met at McDiarmid Park on March 27.
Tanser said: “I have never been in a game when someone has done that.
“I certainly didn’t expect it.
“But maybe justice was done because we didn’t think it should have been a penalty.
“I’m hoping to be on the penalties for us against St Mirren.
“I was down for one against Dundee.
“If we do get one I don’t think I wll be trying anything like that.
“After missing so many this season the manager will be looking for someone who can take them regularly and score.
“If I get a chance I’m sure I will put it away.
“Our season might have worked out differently if we had scored with our penalties.
“I had never seen Liam (Craig) miss one but he did against Motherwell and we went on to lose 3-0.
“Missing a penalty can change games.
“I have never been in a team that has missed so many as we have this season.
“I took them all the time when I was younger but haven’t had one at professional level yet but I am happy to step up and take responsibility.
“I am confident. I just haven’t had a chance yet.
“I have been practising penalties with Sean Goss this week but that was just fun. I want to do it for real in a game now.”
Saints’ only selection concern ahead of the trip to Paisley is Blair Alston, with Jason Kerr now free of suspension.
Manager Tommy Wright said: “Blair took a knock on his calf last week so we will have to take a look at him but other than that everyone is fine.“
