Tommy Wright is bemused that Celtic have been allowed to benefit from a free weekend ahead of their visit to McDiarmid Park.
The St Johnstone manager has vowed, however, that the rested-up champions will be given a tough test by their hosts in their Premiership opener.
With Celtic Park still being re-converted into a football stadium after being used for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the Hoops’ clash with Partick Thistle was postponed.
The logical thing to do would have been to switch the match to Firhill, as far as Wright is concerned though.
“I’m a bit puzzled why Celtic couldn’t play an away game at the weekend,” he said.
“They’ll be nice and fresh, whereas Aberdeen and ourselves had to play in Europe and then at the weekend.
“Everyone knew the situation with Celtic Park was going to arise, so I don’t see why they couldn’t have played Partick Thistle away from home but that’s nothing to do with us.
“Our boys are looking forward to the game.”
Ronny Deila hasn’t experienced a league match yet, but the pressure is building on the new Celtic boss already as a consequence of a humilitating home and away Champions League qualifying defeat to Legia Warsaw.
Wright has sympathy for his opposite number.
“Their new manager has come in and it’s always difficult because you have to get to know the players,” the Northern Irishman pointed out.
“I was lucky, I was promoted from in-house so I already knew the lads, knew what they were capable of and knew them as individuals. That made it easier for me.
“That’s not been the case for Ronny, he’s only just in the door and it does take time. He’s obviously a good manager, his record in Norway was very good and he’s someone Celtic specifically targeted.
“I expect Celtic to win the league again this year because of the squad he’s got. But we’ve done okay against them the last few seasons and hopefully we’ll be able to do it again.”
Wright will be wishing Deila and his team well in Europe, after their controversial reinstatement for Legia’s fielding of an ineligible player in the second leg of their tie.
“If you play a suspended player it’s a 3-0 win for the other team, that’s the rules,” he said.
“Nobody can point the finger at Celtic for that. Looking at it from Legia’s point of view it must seem harsh, but that’s the rules of the competition.”
Saints were showing signs of tiredness towards the end of their match against Ross County on Sunday, and Wright is contemplating a couple of alterations to his starting line-up.