St Johnstone midfielder Chris Millar is looking forward to being reacquainted with two former team-mates at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.
Former Saints stars Liam Craig and Rowan Vine will return on league business with new club Hibs this weekend, and Millar reckons the Perth faithful will give them the reception they deserve.
Just don’t expect there to be any love lost when the first whistle blows and three crucial Premiership points are at stake.
“Obviously there are a few players there (at Hibs) who we all know like Rowan Vine and Liam Craig, so there’s a wee bit added edge to the game this weekend,” Millar noted.
“It will be strange to see Liam in a green strip Liam came to Saints the Christmas just before I came in the summer and he is obviously is a big part of the success we’ve had here.
“He got his move to Hibs and I hope it works out well for him but it will be strange playing against him.
“Him and Cuptie (Dave Mackay) are quite close and they could be playing directly up against each other so it will be interesting.
“But I think the fans will give him a good reception because he’s a great servant to the club here.
“I see no reason why he won’t get a good reception once the game kicks off, the fans can start booing him then!”
Craig left Saints at the end of the last campaign following several seasons in Perth and is almost guaranteed a warm welcome back, although the same might not be said for striker Vine following comments attributed to him over the summer.
The former QPR front man felt Saints handled his contract talks “quite poorly”, according to an interview he gave when he arrived at Easter Road, and told reporters he felt he had moved to a “bigger and better” club in the shape of Hibs.
However, Millar is quick to highlight Vine’s attributes and the part he played in Saints’ success last season.
“Obviously there was stuff said in the press and I spoke to him about it he feels he was misquoted but Viney is a good lad and he’s a good player,” he added.
“He’s a dangerous player and he’s a match winner. We know what he’s all about so we’ll have to be very aware of him.”
Saints’ Europa League exploits meant they had a busier start than most other clubs to their 2013/14 campaign, and Millar admits the international break probably came at the right time.
He added: “We’ve played a lot of games and our dressing room isn’t the youngest either so it’s sometimes nice to get a wee break and refocus again.
“I think the Aberdeen result was, on reflection, a good point for us up there, especially the second half because they pinned us back a bit.
“It was great to keep a clean sheet after what happened at Tannadice. Dundee United deserved to win but it wasn’t as bad a performance as what the 4-0 score suggests.”
Hibs were, of course, also involved in Europa League action early on but suffered a now infamous 9-0 aggregate loss to Malmo a result which heaped pressure on Easter Road boss Pat Fenlon.
Despite their European embarrassment and disappointing start to the league, Millar is taking Hibs as he sees them this weekend.
“Hibs have had their critics this year, especially after the European game, but it’s still early doors in the season and I think people are awful quick to jump on the bandwagon and point figures,” he said.