St Johnstone forward Jamie Gullan knew that drawing Raith Rovers in the Premier Sports Cup was written in the stars.
Both he and Sam Stanton made a summer switch from Kirkcaldy to Perth, with former Saints coach, Andy Kirk, and goalkeeper, Josh Rae, heading in the opposite direction.
Fellow Fair City new recruit, Reghan Tumilty, is another player with strong Raith connections.
There are five dates in the diary when the two clubs will clash over the upcoming campaign, the first of those the third League Cup group game at McDiarmid Park in just over three weeks.
Of all the ex-Raith players now in the Saints dressing room, Stanton is likely to be the one who can expect the hottest reception from Fife fans.
And Gullan joked that he’ll keep his distance from the former Dundee United and Hibs man when they come out of the tunnel at Stark’s Park.
“I’ll be up against Raith Rovers early on in the cup,” he said. “I knew it would happen!
“It will be exciting to play against them.
“Then I’ll go back to Stark’s Park (in September) as an opposition player for the first time in the league.
“I’ll send Sam out in front – I’ll be at the back!”
Goal threat
Gullan is sure that Stanton and Tumilty will both become big crowd favourites at McDiarmid.
“I’ve played with Stants and Reghan for a number of years,” he said. “They’re two really good players who are going to benefit this squad.
“Stants is a big goal threat, even if he plays deeper as an eight.
“He makes late runs into the box, can get the ball on the half turn and just glides past folk.
“Sam is creative and has a great eye for goal. He’s a great addition to the team.”
Gullan’s versatility will have impressed boss, Simo Valakari, when it came to identifying the 25-year-old as his only attacking squad addition so far.
And the player himself liked what the Finn had to say about the next chapter of his career.
“Speaking to the gaffer, with where he saw me fitting in, I thought it would suit me down to the ground,” said Gullan.
“We spoke about the ways I hope he can improve me.
“When I was younger coming through, I mostly played off the left and as a striker every now and then.
“But over last couple of years I’ve been used more as a number nine.
“I can play as one of the advanced midfielders as well.
“Over the course of the season, I will probably be asked to play everywhere along the front.
“I’ll happily do that.”
Top-flight ambition
Gullan hopes to help Saints make a kick adjustment – but is equally determined to ensure the club’s stay in the second tier of Scottish football is a short one.
“The aim is to be a Premiership player by the end of this season,” he said.
“That’s the goal everyone should be striving for – to play at the highest level.
“I want to be up there playing against the best side.
“Hopefully we can achieve it as a team.
“Obviously the club has a lot of expectations to go straight back up which is a different challenge to what I’ve had before.
“That’s a challenge I wanted to take on.
“We can hopefully take that opportunity and have a successful season.”
Tight group needed
Gullan added: “Every year it seems that we say this is going to be the toughest Championship yet!
“But genuinely, I think this year will be the hardest I’ve known.
“A lot of clubs are getting good players in the door and two Premiership teams have come down, which hasn’t happened for a few years.
“You need to have a real tight group that fights for each other.
“Both sides of the game are a must. Most games, you’re going to be in a physical battle.
“Then once you get up near the top end of the park, you need to get the ball down and play and create chances.
“It’s going to take a massive effort from the whole squad.”
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