Liam Craig forged a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder when he was previously at McDiarmid Park.
And manager Tommy Wright is looking to his latest summer signing to pick-up where he left off.
The second-time-around Saint failed to convert chances which came his way in the final pre-season friendly against Blackpool on Saturday.
But Craig is convinced the goals will flow again after being given licence to roam.
And the one-time Falkirk and Ipswich player knows that would reward Perth fans who have warmly embraced his return after a two-year spell with Hibs.
“The fans here have been great. I think it goes back to the way I left the club,” he said.
“It came out in the January that I was moving on but it didn’t change my relationship with the fans or, more importantly, how I played for the club.
“I think I have learned a lot over the last couple of years and I am a better player for the experience at Hibs,” he said.
“It is now down to me to repay the fans’ faith and all the messages of support I have been getting.
“It would be nice to start with a goal at Hearts if I play in the opening Premier League fixture on Sunday.”
The main factor in the weekend clash with League One Blackpool, who edged the contest with a tidy first-half strike from triallist Jim McAlister, was avoiding any more injuries.
Striker Graham Cummins played after requiring hospital treatment to disentangle an eyelid caught in a training top zip, while Frazer Wright and David Wotherspoon returned to the fray.
Craig, who combined effectively with Chris Millar in the engine room, said: “First half we were neat and tidy without doing too much, but after the break we caused them a few problems and should have scored two or three.
“But the main thing was not adding to our injury list it’s long enough.
“We know we have to be better in the final third.
“But there were plenty positives to take in terms of the way we moved the ball around and the chances we created.
“I should have had two, maybe even three. But it is great getting back into the box after playing a bit deeper last year with Hibs.
“To come back here and get licence to attack the box is great. I had a poor finish when Steven Maclean squared it to me, but later on the defender got a nick on a chance and it went straight to the keeper. The manager has been saying he needs goals from the midfield, and I know I can deliver. I will back myself to get goals when it matters.
“The work ethic in this team is second to none, and that is the foundation of the success here.
“But there are gifted footballers like Michael O’Halloran and Macca. These are boys that can win you a game.
“Now we are looking forward to the first game of the season at Tynecastle.”
As a former captain with capital rivals Hibs, Craig knows what to expect on Sunday.
“I have been there a few times over the last couple of years with Hibs. This is going to be a sell-out, it will be noisy and there’s a lot of expectation riding on Hearts with them coming back up into the Premier league.
“We have to be brave enough to get on the ball and try to win the game.
“You have to go to places like Tynecastle and enjoy the atmosphere, embrace it. I have been there with Falkirk and St Johnstone as well. I have always loved it, and the Edinburgh derbies were great.”
He added: “I am expecting a special reception from the Hearts fans. I remember getting the treatment when I was still a Saints player and everyone knew I had signed a pre-contract at Hibs.”