St Johnstone tend to do well when the battle for a top six place gets serious.
And they tend to do well when they face Dundee United.
So the Perth side will make the short trip to Tannadice optimistic they can get a win which would recharge their league campaign.
Saints boss Tommy Wright commented: “We have been here before and we have done well at this stage of the season. We have shown we can cope with it.
“The race for the top six is exciting. It is going to be tight this year. There’s going to be a lot of twists and turns.”
United have only won two of the last 11 games against Saints.
According to Wright there’s no simple explanation as to why they’ve had such dominance in the Tayside derby.
“I don’t know if we have got into their heads,” he said. “You’d have to ask them.
“We have a good record against United. We always feel if we compete with them we will stay in the game. We always believe we can nick a goal.
“I can’t put a finger on why we can done so well against them but hopefully it will continue.”
Wright continued: “We will come up against a different back four this time.
“They have lost Mackay-Steven and Armstrong to Celtic and you might say that weakens them going forward but they have brought in McGowan, Dixon and Anier on the back of it.
“Their squad is still very strong and they can hurt you, so we have to make sure we compete with them.
“It is going to be a difficult game. These matches are always well contested. We have won one each this season.
“They are looking for points to get into Europe and we are chasing a win to get into the top six. It is set up nicely.”
Steven Anderson’s testimonial dinner is on Saturday night, and a victory over United would help get the evening off to a flying start.
“From a personal point of view it would be nice for Ando to get a result against the club that released him,” Wright pointed out.
“It would be good to get three points and the lads can go celebrate his 10 years here at the big testimonial dinner.”
Wright is delighted that his top scorer Michael O’Halloran is back on form and back on the goal trail.
He explained: “Michael’s form dipped a bit for a couple of weeks and he had a back problem before we played Queen of the South.
“We keep emphasising he has to work hard for the team and when he does that he gets his rewards.
“He has got a few close range finishes and that’s good. I’ve been delighted with him overall this season.”
Danny Swanson and Lee Croft have trained, and should be available. David Wotherspoon returns from suspension.
Murray Davidson is likely to miss out as a result of his calf injury, however.
Wright added: “In the last few performances we have been decent and we have to maintain that level. Do that and we will get enough points to make the top six.
“We have slipped out of it just now but we have to make sure we stay in touch with Dundee.
“It could be set up for the winners to get into the top six when we play Dundee in the last game before the split. I think it will go down to the wire.
“Overall the players have done magnificently to have got us in this position.”