St Johnstone could all but knock Dundee out of the fight for fourth place in the Premiership with a Tayside derby win tomorrow, according to manager Tommy Wright.
And that would leave Saints in a straight fight with Dundee United for a probable place in the Europa League.
“It’s a derby and the three Tayside clubs have a lot to play for,” Wright said.
“One will get fourth place and then it’s a case of wait and see if Inverness can win the cup and we can get into Europe.
“The games between the three clubs have added incentive between now and the end of the season. It is something to look forward to.
“There might have been some nerves about the last game in Perth because the top six was still in doubt. But the goal settled us a bit. We had one ear on what was happening at Tannadice that day. I relayed the news that United had gone one up to Paul (Hartley).
“Now that we have secured the top six again the pressure is off a bit, although the intensity will still be there.
“If we win to move seven points ahead of Dundee they would need to get eight points from 12 and that is difficult at the best of times, without us picking up any more points.
“We would be in a good position but we aren’t getting carried away.
“I have taken a lot of satisfaction already from how well the players have responded. But if we can get fourth and Europe again it will be an absolutely fantastic achievement.
“There is an eagerness and a desire to get that fourth place and see what happens in the cup final.”
European football would mean a three-week summer break for the Saints squad, and some late holiday changes.
Wright himself would be one of those who would have to get an earlier homeward flight than planned.
“I have my own holiday booked and will have to cut it short if we get into Europe,” he pointed out.
“The players normally come and ask me about holidays. I’m sure some have already booked up and not said.
“Listen I want Europe, we want Europe. You have the rest of your lives for holidays.
“I don’t employ the wives so that’s not my problem. The contract is with the player so they can sort things out at home!
“We have given them two dates for when we will come back. It’s all up in the air right now.”
He added: “If we do get into Europe there is such a short period to turn it around and that is disappointing.
“People say ‘stop moaning, it’s only football’ but players need recovery time.
“Aberdeen and us were back early last year. It doesn’t matter who is in Europe, we will be in the same boat. It could be us, Dundee or United waiting for the cup final result.
“Players will be back in the middle of June, after just three weeks off.
“We are looking at June 15/16/17 and Aberdeen are the same. But it’s not the end of the world and I want that problem, I want to get back into Europe.”
Murray Davidson returned to training yesterday and Wright is optimistic that Brian Easton and Frazer Wright will both overcome knocks to be available for the trip to Dens.