Tim Clancy insists all is fair in love and war as he aims to help St Johnstone pip former club Hibs to a place in the top six.
The Irishman signed on at McDiarmid Park at the end of February, just a couple of months after being released by the Easter Road side, and now ironically finds himself locked in a battle with the Edinburgh club for a spot in the Premiership’s top half.
Clancy has been given opportunities to impress in recent games and the defender is determined to seize the chances that come his way between now and the end of the league campaign.
“I’m here to do the best I can between now and the end of the season,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get into the top six and the Scottish Cup final. It’s in our own hands and we know if we win this weekend that is us pretty much in the top six.
“We’d be seven points ahead of Hibs with games running out for them so obviously it’s huge for both clubs.
“They will be looking it as a chance to claw things back. Obviously I left Hibs and we are fighting it out with them, but these things happen in the game.
“It’s not my first move here. I’m used to playing former clubs having played in Scotland for Motherwell and Kilmarnock as well as Hibs and it makes no difference this weekend.
“We’ve got a good positive dressing room here and top six has been the aim all season. We knew ourselves it wasn’t good enough against Ross County on Saturday and we’ll be ready for the Hibs game.”
Clancy admits the Saints team cannot quite put their fingers on why Saturday’s performance against Ross County was so lacklustre, but stressed the players are keen not to waste another chance to strengthen their top six claims this weekend.
He said: “We knew a win would put us in a very strong position going into the game, especially after a massive result against Dundee United.
“It just didn’t happen for us and we didn’t create enough all over the pitch. The gaffer said it was like night and day comparing our performances over the two games.
“It’s amazing there could be such a contrast in the space of a few days.
“But we’ve got to get ourselves sorted out for the Hibs game. We are still in the driving seat. I don’t think there was any complacency going into the County match.
“We had put in a huge effort to get the win against United. But right from the start on Saturday we seemed flat. We didn’t get going.”
Clancy made his Saints debut against Dundee United just over a week ago and was praised by boss Tommy Wright, although the 29-year-old admits he has had to hit the ground running.
“United was my first game in 11 months and I got 70 minutes my last first team game was in April last year for Hibs,” he said.
“So it was quite tough at Tannadice. The only games I’ve had were at U20 level and that’s completely different.
“But whenever I’m called upon I have to do the best I can, and the 90 minutes against County should have helped my match fitness.
“It’s why I came back over from Ireland to sign for Saints. I came here prepared to play second fiddle and I got in because big Easty (Brian Easton) felt his hamstring against United.
“But it’s not often you get let go by a club and get a chance to go to one which is doing better.”
Meanwhile, Saints striker Steven MacLean has tipped stricken team-mate Murray Davidson to come back strongly from his serious knee injury.
Davidson, who is out of contract in the summer, is facing up to several months on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments during a home game with Hearts on January 18.
If anyone knows about how to recover from such setbacks it is MacLean, who recently returned to the fold after undergoing knee surgery of his own, and the Saints forward reckons Davidson will return with a point to prove.
“I think he’ll be able to take it in his stride,” MacLean said.
“Once you are out for a long while I think you need to try and break it down, so you take six weeks at a time. He’ll be six weeks in his brace so he’ll look to kick on after that, so if you take it six weeks and then the next six weeks then he’ll find it easier.
“I think he knows that, rather than looking at the six months. You’ve got to set yourself goals, first of all walking and then slowly building yourself up.
“But I think he’ll be fine because he’s a strong character and he’ll come back from it. He’s a good lad and he’s mentally strong.”
Saints have not had their injury problems to seek this season with defender Tam Scobbie also ruled out for the rest of the campaign with ankle ligament damage.
MacLean hopes the pair can use their situation to their advantage.
“It’s unfortunate that Tam is out as well but it’s also fortunate in a way because at least they’ll be able to bounce off each other and drive each other on,” he added.
“They’ll be trying to beat each other to see who gets back first, so at least they’ll have a mate in the gym.”