Alan Mannus has been a virtual bystander in St Johnstone’s last two matches but he fully expects that to change on Saturday.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United barely forced a save out of the Northern Ireland international but an away match to Celtic on SPL trophy presentation day is likely to change that.
Mannus said: “It’s been pretty quiet in my last two games against Inverness, who went down to 10 men early on, and Dundee United.
“You would expect to be a bit busier against United but the guys in front provide great cover and they are defending really well. I had nothing to do at Dundee.
“We played some good football at Tannadice, passing it nicely, keeping the ball and working triangles.
“Experience and just playing games helps cope when you are quiet for long spells in matches. Experience brings better decision making and being able to concentrate. I talk to myself during games to keep myself focused.
“At the teams I was with before coming here, at Shamrock Rovers and Linfield, you were expected to be at the top of the league so there were games when I wasn’t involved that much. Then you would have to work in the last five minutes.
“I like keeping clean sheets but I’d actually rather be a bit busier. I expect that might be the case at Celtic Park.
“When we played them last time in Glasgow and got a 1-1 draw, I didn’t have that much to do, really. But there have been other times when it has been hectic. It can be one extreme to the other.
“We have played well against them this season so hopefully we can keep that going.
“There’s no reason why we can’t go there and win. If Celtic are at their best they can beat anyone. But on our day we can beat anyone. We have to be as good as we can be.”
Mannus has been in the Celtic players’ position when he’s been presented with a championship winners’ medal on the day of a game, and his experience will give hope to Perth fans travelling to Glasgow.
He recalled: “There was a year at Linfield when we were unbeaten going into the final game of the season. We had won the league with a few games to spare.
“But we lost on the day we got the trophy so that sort of thing can happen. It wasn’t expected and it was a bit of a dampener, I guess.”
The European race will be over if Inverness beat United and Saints lose, but Mannus believes it is an achievement in itself to still be in the hunt on the penultimate week of the campaign.
He said: “After the start we had to the season and even at the turn of the year, we’d probably have taken going into the last two games in fourth position a point behind Inverness.
“Early on we’d have said top six would be good so it shows how well we have played since that opening spell. We stuck at it and the manager and staff here deserve credit as well.
“We do what we have to do to get results. We aren’t really a team looking to play fancy football. We can play but at the right time and in the right place without taking unnecessary risks and giving away sloppy goals. But what everyone does is work hard for their teammates.”
Mannus, who reported there has been “some progress” with talks over a new deal, thanked the supporters for a clutch of awards he has received.
“Being here and to be playing is a big thing for me,” he said.
“And it means a lot to me that the fans are happy with what I have done. It shows there is a connection there and that they appreciate me.”