Dundee United are within striking distance of St Johnstone after the weekend’s football.
But Perth manager Tommy Wright wants to get their top six place secured before he starts to target the Tangerines.
Wright believes his team could be just one win out of their last three games away from securing their primary objective.
And then the focus will switch to overtaking their Tayside neighbours who are only two points above them in the table, albeit with two games in hand.
“There is still a bit of work to be done,” Wright insisted. “It can change so quickly so we are taking nothing for granted.
“We have three tough games before the break. One win might do us, who knows? But we haven’t achieved anything yet and we have to see it through.
“If we get seven points out of the next three games we have a chance of staying in touch with Dundee United and then we can see where the games take us after the split.
“But the priority and focus is on getting the points needed to be in the top six.”
Wright was delighted to see his side back to full intensity in the comfortable 2-0 victory over St Mirren.
He reflected: “We didn’t start the game well against Partick and we emphasised the importance of starting well at home, applying pressure to St Mirren given the position they are in.
“Being down there all season it is difficult if you go a goal down. We started with good tempo and we were aggressive in midfield with Murray (Davidson) and Midgey (Chris Millar).
“If I do have a small criticism it is that we could have scored more goals.
“But it was an important win because every point at this stage of the season is vital.”
Wright has challenged striker Brian Graham to build on his goal-scoring comeback against the Buddies.
He said: “Brian has been a but unlucky after his suspension because he was out of the team. But I made my mind up quickly after the Partick game that he would start because he has caused St Mirren problems this season.
“He had a couple of valid goals disallowed in the previous game here.
“I also thought he would be hungry and we could be a bit more direct and get crosses into the box. Now he has to maintain that level.”
Meanwhile, the injury sustained by young striker George Hunter in a recent under-20 game isn’t as serious as first feared, Wright revealed.
He explained: “We will have an assessment in the next couple of days but it is a sprained ankle rather than anything serious.
“There was a lot of panic after the game. That is the downside Twitter. It was described as ‘two physios and the leg in a splint’. Everyone starts to panic when they read that.
“It was true to a point but there is nothing broken. It’s not as bad as first feared.”