St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas looks like getting only one of his three injured central midfielders available for the clash with Celtic.
The Perth boss is optimistic about Murray Davidson’s chances, but pessimistic about Chris Millar’s and Mehdi Abeid’s.
He reported: “Mehdi has returned from Newcastle after treatment but he is struggling for Saturday. It would be a blow if he and Chris Millar are both out.
“But Muzz should be OK and Callum (Davidson) is back in training, although it would be hard on Tam Scobbie if he was left out,” said the boss.
Lomas is anticipating a full-strength Celtic line-up.
He pointed out: “I would expect Lenny to play the guys who have won him the league after giving some of them a break. He will want them getting game time in the build-up to the cup final.”
Saints will happily form a guard of honour to welcome the Celtic players on to the pitch, but that will be the end of the friendliness.
“Celtic, as champions, will be given the respect they deserve,” Lomas insisted.
“We will give them a guard of honour before kick-off in recognition of their achievement. There is a lot of disrespect in football but it is only right they are recognised for their efforts in winning the title. They are worthy champions.
“But we have our own agenda and it will be right down to business after that. We won’t let the party atmosphere on a day like this distract us. We have to concentrate on what we are doing.
“The target we have had for a while now is to take it down to the last game of the season. Motivation certainly won’t be a problem. These are the games everyone wants to play in.
“It is going to a tough, tough game in a special arena with a special atmosphere. The odds will be stacked against us. But the lads have responded before in these situations when they have had something to prove.
“We have had some good results against Celtic this season but you can’t be average and expect to take much from a game like this. We have to be right at it, as we were in winning the derby last week against Dundee United.
“Inverness are in pole position with a home game against United and a point advantage. But we are fighting and scrapping all the way.
“If we do our jobs individually and collectively, we can take our hopes of third place into the final game against Motherwell.”