GET OUT THERE AND STAKE YOUR CLAIM Manager will use Hearts game to test out players
A bounce game against
Hearts today will give St Johnstone stars the opportunity to stake a claim for starting spots in the push for Premiership safety.
Interim manager Steven Maclean will use the Tynecastle test to cast an eye over his squad and prepare them for a crucial run-in.
There is no competitive action this weekend due to the Scottish Cup games.
The post-split fixtures were announced earlier this week and offered up a home opener against Dundee United on Saturday, May 6.
Saints,who sit ninth in the table, are preparing for five huge dates with destiny.
“We are playing Hearts on Friday in a bounce game,” Maclean revealed.
“Naisy [Steven Naismith] text me to see if we fancied it and it was a no-brainer for both of us, especially as we won’t be playing each other again.
“Sometimes when you have these breaks it’s good to get players back and get a rest into people.
“But I think we could do with a game to keep working on things and also give people the chance to show what they can do.
“There were players who didn’t get game time last weekend but this will be an opportunity to
stake a claim.”
Maclean’s first game in the hotseat had ended in a 1-1 draw against Hibs.
“I told everyone last week that it’s a clean slate for everyone,” he added.
“I know I’ve been here already but it’s up to everyone what they do from now. I told them they can play their way into the team by the way they train and people will be able to play their way into my thoughts on Friday too.
“It’s a chance to work on different combinations and different ideas, so I’ll be challenging them to show how much they want to be involved.”
After opening the safety mission against Dundee United, Saints will welcome Motherwell on Saturday, May 13 (3pm).
There is then a trip to the notoriously tricky venue of Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock on Saturday, May 20 (3pm).
A midweek journey up the A9 to face Ross County, who currently sit bottom of the table, is pencilled in for Wednesday, May 24. Kickoff is 7.45pm.
The curtain-closing fixture is on Sunday, May 28, at home to Livingston (3pm).
The Perth club sit just two points above Dundee United and second-from-bottom
Kilmarnock.
Bottom of the table
Ross County are six points behind.
• Tickets for the
Dundee United game go on sale today at 10am
Saints are linking up with schools, teams and community groups to boost crowd numbers.