St Johnstone set a high benchmark in terms of their overall play and clinical finishing when they defeated Hibs on Monday night and manager Steve Lomas has demanded more of the same against Ross County.
Saints travel north to the Highlands on the back of that morale-boosting 3-1 win and performance at Easter Road which has taken them into fourth place in the SPL table.
With second and third-placed Inverness and Motherwell also set to meet, the Perth players know that a win over the Staggies could propel them to the heady heights of second top in the division.
However, Lomas is taking nothing for granted against Derek Adams’ side. The Saints boss said: “It was an excellent performance against Hibs and we played some very good football.
“We enjoyed it and to go away and get three points in this league is fantastic. But that one is gone now. It’s all about backing up the last result and we will have to match those standards going to Ross County.
“It’s shaping up as an important time for us. We come off the Hibs game with a trip to the Highlands then it’s Celtic at home before St Mirren.
“We have a lot of games coming in the next few weeks and the squad will be important to us. Everyone will play their part.”
“There are going to be players who are disappointed that is inevitable.
“But we all share a common goal here. The desire was evident at Easter Road and it is up to others in the group to urge on guys who might feel down about being left out. We are in it together.
“It is still very tight in the table. We could go up another peg or even two with Inverness playing Motherwell. But the priority is getting a repeat of the standards we set against Hibs.
“We have to match that intensity on and off the ball going to a tough venue because County will view this as a chance to get closer to us.
“The onus is on the lads to repeat the quality shown at Easter Road over the next few weeks. It will be tough but we want to put together another good run.”
Skipper Dave Mackay, who sat out the Hibs game after suffering a calf strain, and midfielder Chris Millar are both rated doubtful for the trip to Dingwall.