SAINTS READY TO RESPOND

McDiarmid Park will be the focus of attention tonight as Saints host Rangers - one of only two matches across the UK as domestic football returns to following the latest international break.

Tommy Wright's men currently sit behind the Ibrox side in fourth place on goal difference and six points adrift of early pace setters Celtic and Aberdeen and the Saints manager and his players will be looking for a response after a disappointing 3-0 defeat last time out against Aberdeen.

Steven McLean has stated that Saints will be up for the challenge Pedro Caixinha's team will bring: “Anytime we have put in a poor performance we have come out fighting. I’m sure it will be no different on Friday. We have had to wait two weeks so we will primed and ready.

“I was stewing for a few days after the Aberdeen but we are over it now. It has still been a good start to the season and we need to build on that.”

In terms of team news, Michael O'Halloran will be the main absentee for Saints as he is inelgible to play against his parent club. Meanwhile, Richard Foster will be unable to take the field against his former club after picking up a two match SFA suspension.

Saints will be looking to finally get one over on the Ibrox outfit after going over seven years without a league win. Last season, the pair shared the spoils in their opening two meetings with back to back 1-1 draws before Rangers ran out winners during both of their 2017 clashes.

Saints and Rangers both have strong respective home and away records as of late which should make for a very interesting contest. Saints have won five out of their last seven outings at McDiarmid Park while Rangers have gone undefeated in their last nine matches away from home.

Match Preview by GARY PETERSEN

Tonight's match is accessible only by way of a St Johnstone FC season ticket or match ticket. The away areas of the ground are completely sold out but home match tickets can still be purchased up to kick off time PROVIDED that you are a season ticket holder requiring additional tickets, you have a voucher from the recent home match against Hamilton or you are on the club database.

All supporters are urged to head to the game early - gates are open at 6.45pm - because as well as the normal Friday evening traffic, roadwork restrictions around the stadium and specifically the closure of the A85 slip road off the A9 will slow you down. Traffic from the west will be required to proceed past the stadium on the A9 to the Inveralmond roundabout, go around the roundabout and head south on A9 before accessing the slip road to the stadium.