Queen of the South’s artificial pitch holds no fears for St Johnstone, Perth boss Tommy Wright has insisted.
The Scottish Cup holders were handed the long trip to Dumfries for their fifth round tie at the start of February.
Saints fans looking for good omens will recall that they beat lower league opposition on a synthetic surface at the same stage of the competition last year.
And according to Wright, that win at Forfar proves that they will be able to adapt to their surroundings at Palmerston in a couple of months.
He said: “They are going well in the Championship and it is a difficult tie away from home.
“But the plastic pitch won’t bother us. We handled it well last season at the same stage when we beat Forfar.
“It’s one we can look forward to but there is a lot of football to be played between now and February.”
Queens have Saints keeper Zander Clark on loan, but he won’t be able to play in the match, even if his deal is extended through to the end of the season, as expected.
If Saints can repeat the performance they produced to defeat Ross County at the weekend, Queens will have their work cut out to knock the defending champions out.
Wright reflected: “The overall performance had a bit of everything, quality in the first-half and we showed grit, determination and a desire not to get beaten when we came under pressure at different periods in the second half.
“But we were still creating chances and it was one of those games that could have ended 2-2 or we could have won 7-2.
“When we changed the system and went 4-3-3 with Murray Davidson sitting in front of the defence that nullified the threat and they didn’t create any real chances in the last 10 minutes.
“At 2-1 you are always worried about a mistake proving costly. But I was happy with the overall performance.
“I would like to have put the game to bed a bit earlier but the main thing was having our name in the draw for the next round. It’s something to look forward to.”
Pre-match Wright had played down the pressure on his team, but now that they are safely through to the next round, he was happy to acknowledge Saturday wasn’t like a normal fourth round tie for the players.
He said: “As holders we certainly didn’t want to be going out in our first game trying to defend the trophy.
“There probably was extra pressure on us going in as holders and maybe that showed in the crowd in the second half when they were getting a bit anxious.
“We want to make a decent defence of the trophy we won in May and that is what we are trying to do.”
The focus now returns to league football, with struggling St Mirren next up at the weekend.
Wright pointed out: “November has been a good month for us. We capped it off with a good cup victory. We have a busy period coming up and we have to continue that form in the league. The next cup game will take care of itself.
“The overall level of consistency has pleased me over the last five or six games.
“We look more of an attacking force now. We are creating chances and taking them. We are happy with November but we have to start again away to St Mirren this weekend.”
In Michael O’Halloran, Wright has the makings of an all-round frontman, he believes.
“Michael has scored four in his last four games and since coming to the club nearly a year ago he has come up with a decent return as someone who has mostly played in wide areas,” he said.
“He has that versatility, good technique and pace – he is now showing composure to tuck away the chances.
“It was a striker’s finish against Ross County, tucking it away in the corner and giving the keeper no chance.”