The midweek Hamilton horror show hasn’t put the frighteners on St Johnstone ahead of their trip to face in-form Celtic today, according to captain Dave Mackay.
Just a few days after the Perth men were held to a 0-0 draw by Accies, the league leaders put eight past them.
But Saints have enjoyed success at Parkhead, the most recent example being the Danny Swanson-inspired 1-0 win when Celtic were on an eight-game winning run.
And they will believe the improbable is possible again.
“Celtic’s result against Hamilton won’t come into our thinking,” the veteran defender said. “They can do that on any given day to any team.
“Even though they have their critics, especially when they go out of Europe, they’re still the best team in the country by a mile.
“If they’re on their game and the other team isn’t at it, they are capable of doing that. I’ve been on the end of a few defeats in the past. I know what it’s like.
“But I’ve also beaten them a couple of times. There have been a few draws as well.
“If they have an off day and we play well, get our tactics right and have a bit of luck we can get a result.”
Next up for Saints will be their League Cup semi-final seven days later.
Mackay added: “We’re on a run of form which isn’t great. We haven’t scored for five games, I think, and not won in that period obviously.
“We’d love to get a win to go into the semi-final with confidence but even if we do lose to Celtic I don’t think it will change much for the semi. It’s a one-off game.
“If we came out with a defeat like Hamilton got obviously it might be a bit different but I can’t see that happening.”
Stopping old Livingston team-mate Leigh Griffith from scoring is the biggest issue facing Mackay and his defensive colleagues today.
“He’s on fire at the moment,” Mackay said.
“He broke the record for quickest to 50 goals and then adds another three in midweek.
“When I played with him at Livingston the one thing you always knew was he could finish.
“His left foot is incredible. He very rarely misses the target. And he’s scoring goals with his right now as well.
“He’s always been good in the air. He’s got a great leap and timing, and is a threat at the back post. People are just starting to realise that.
“He’s becoming the complete player.
“At Livi everything was off the cuff. It was almost as if he hadn’t been coached.
“He came in at 16 because of all the financial problems at the club and was thrown straight in. He’d try and beat four players. Now at Celtic he’s matured a lot and his hold-up play and link-up play is much-improved.
“Playing with better players and listening to coaches has seen him improve.
“It’s great for him and will be great for Scotland, I’m sure. If there was a Scotland game tomorrow I think he’d have to be playing. The other strikers aren’t playing the likes of Fletcher and Naismith. He’s our in-form player.
If Griffiths is likely to be Celtic’s key man, Michael O’Halloran could be Saints’.
Mackay will be a happy man if he is still a Perth player today, and in the starting line-up.
“Michael’s quite a quiet boy,” he said. “There’s been a lot of talk about a move and it would unsettle you, there’s no doubt about that.
“His agent will have been telling him stuff and his head will have been all over the place.
“But he has had a bit of a laugh about it and boys have been winding him up.
“He’s one of our better players and that’s why teams are after him. He’s been a great signing and if he does move, good luck to him.
“But while he’s here he’s a huge asset to us and we obviously want him in the team.”
Darnell Fisher can’t play today, while Chris Millar is injured.