Go by the league table and St Johnstone have just a slight chance of getting the result they need at Celtic Park today to guarantee taking the fight for a European place into the last day of the season.
But go by the top-six form guide, and they’ve got an excellent one.
Driven by the incentive of third spot and the Europa League, Saints have claimed two wins and a draw since the split.
Celtic, on the other hand, got the victory they needed to clinch the title at Celtic Park, but have since eased off and have lost and drawn.
Perth skipper Dave Mackay is hoping that the top-six trend of the teams most needing wins getting them continues at Parkhead this afternoon.
“We probably will need something against Celtic,” he admitted. “We can’t go into the match expecting Dundee United to do us a favour at Inverness, even though United are a good enough team to do it.
“Maybe a point could still keep us in even though Caley have got a slightly better goal difference. We’ve taken seven points out of nine, which is quite a bit better than none out of 15 last season. It should have been nine out of nine, and maybe those dropped points against Ross County will come back to haunt us. Seven out of nine in the top six is a good haul though.
“It was a huge disappointment last year. Getting beat every week and some of them heavy ones was a real damp squib. From going from the high of making the top six for the first time to go out with a whimper was really disappointing. Thankfully we’re putting it right this year.
“We’ve got a better record than Celtic after the split. You find that teams who need results give it a right go.
“I’m expecting their full team, because they’ll be looking to get ready for the cup final. No matter who they play, we know we’re in for a really hard game.”
Also giving Saints grounds for optimism is their SPL record this season against Celtic.
“We’re unbeaten against Celtic in the league (one win and two draws) so hopefully we can keep that going,” Mackay said. “We have also beaten them at Celtic Park in the past, and we’ve beaten them here this season.
“Even though Celtic have won the league by a big distance they’ve lost a few games along the way. On our day there’s no doubt that we can get a one-off result. Hopefully they’ve got their holiday heads on and we can capitalise on it.”
A lack of focus from Neil Lennon’s men is more a hope than an expectation though.
“It’s possibly a bad thing for us that they’re getting the trophy tomorrow,” he observed. “I know half the squad were off last week, and half the week before. But they’ll be back to full numbers this weekend. The fans will be up for it and we have to make sure they don’t get an early goal, because they could then go on to over-run us.”
He added: “I’m sure I’ve played Rangers when they’ve been getting the SPL trophy, and I’ve also played them on the first day when the flag is getting unfurled. They are great days to be a part of. The atmosphere will be electric.
“The day will be all about Celtic and we’ll be forgotten. They’ll be expected to turn up and put us away. It could work to our advantage that nobody expects us to do anything.”
Saints are likely to be without Chris Millar and Mehdi Abeid, but Murray and Callum Davidson should be fit. David McCracken’s season is over after he had a knee operation.