Kilmarnock, who have not lost to St Mirren since early 2021, make a solitary change from the loss at Ibrox six days ago as they look to seal fourth place.
Joe Wright is serving a suspension having been sent off in that match, so Robbie Deas is brought in to start.
Derek McInnes also fields David Watson, with Liam Polworth dropping to the bench.
Image source, SNSRobbie Deas starts for Kilmarnock in place of Joe Wright
St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain, O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, McMenamin, Mandron.
Substitutes: Urminsky, Dunne, Taylor, Brown, Bwomono, Mooney, Baccus, Jamieson, Scott.
Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Donnelly, Watson, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell (c).
Substitutes: O'Hara, McKenzie, Murray, Cameron, Davies, Stewart, Polworth, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSElvis Bwomono is available again for St Mirren after recovering from a knee complaint. Ryan Strain was sent home ill earlier in the week and will be assessed as will Greg Kiltie while Scott Tanser is struggling with a calf strain. Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) are out for the season.
Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at Ibrox last weekend. Greg Stewart has returned to training this week after his hernia operation and is in contention while James Balagizi could return from a knee issue. Kyle Magennis (hamstring) remains out long term while Joe Wright is suspended.
Image source, SNSMarley Watkins says he "hopes" to stay at Kilmarnock beyond the expiry of his contract in the summer.
The 33-year-old has been rejuvenated at Rugby Park, leading the way as the club's top scorer this term with 13 goals in all competitions.
Manager Derek McInnes has made no secret of his aim to keep the Welsh striker for next season's European campaign, which Watkins admits is an exciting prospect.
“Talks are ongoing and we’ll see what happens," he said.
“But yes, I’m hoping to stay. I have really enjoyed my time here but see what happens.
“It has been really enjoyable and obviously there is stuff to consider like what is best for your family.
“But the gaffer has been great with me on and off the pitch and I am really grateful to him and we will keep talking. .
“You want to play the best level and Europe is obviously a good level and exciting."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes says Kevin van Veen will not be returning since the club cannot afford to pay the level of wages required for the on-loan Dutchman. (Football Scotland), external
Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren remain without a win in their last seven league meetings with Kilmarnock (D4 L3) since a 2-0 victory in February 2021.
Kilmarnock have won their last two league visits to St Mirren and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three (W2 D1).
St Mirren have lost five of their last eight home league games (W3), as many as their previous 27 beforehand (W14 D8 L5). All five of those defeats have been against the four sides currently above the Buddies in the table (2 v Rangers, 1 v Kilmarnock, Celtic, Hearts).
Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last 15 Scottish Premiership matches against sides other than the Old Firm, winning eight and drawing seven since losing 1-0 to Hearts in December. This is the longest unbeaten run against non-Old Firm sides by a non-Old Firm club in the top flight since Aberdeen went 22 without defeat from October 2014 to April 2015.
Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes has only lost one of his 31 top-flight matches as a manager against St Mirren (W14 D16), a 1-0 defeat with Aberdeen in August 2019.
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes has warned against complacency as his Kilmarnock side look to wrap up fourth place this weekend.
A win would in Paisley seals the deal while avoiding defeat effectively is enough too as it would leave the Rugby Park side six points and 10 goals better off than opponents St Mirren with two games left.
After Dundee's defeat to the Buddies secured his team's place in European football, McInnes insists they're still in a battle for fourth and a Europa League spot.
"We don’t need to do it this weekend but we would like to. That’s the intention," he said.
“It was a great feeling last weekend watching as we got into Europe with four games to spare but now we want to finish off what has been a fantastic campaign by securing that fourth spot.
“There is still a job to be done to do that and hopefully we can do that job on Saturday.
“Obviously St Mirren are in a fight with Dundee for fifth and in a fight with us for fourth. We don’t think for a moment that we have secured fourth spot.
"We feel there is still work to be done, we will still try to push the players to the limits and see what we can get out of this season.
"To get fourth spot means a lot and should do for the players and it is important they recognise there is still a job to be done.”
Image source, SNSPhilippe Clement, Tony Docherty, Derek McInnes and John McGlynn have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Footballer Writers' Association manager of the year award.
It was Falkirk's McGlynn who walked away with the PFA prize last week after leading the Bairns to an invincible League 1-winning campaign, beating Kilmarnock's McInnes and Docherty of Dundee.
Rangers boss Clement is a new nominee, having taken over at Ibrox in October following the departure of Michael Beale.
The Belgian has hauled his side back into the title race, despite some stumbling in recent weeks, and also lifted the League Cup with victory over Aberdeen at Hampden in December.
Meanwhile, McInnes has taken Kilmarnock from the brink of relegation last term to guaranteed European football, with the Rugby Park side front runners to finish fourth in the Premiership.
His former assistant Docherty has enjoyed an impressive first season in the Dens Park hot seat, leading Dundee to the top six in their first season back in the top flight.
But their biggest challenge to claim the award may come from McGlynn, who has earned plenty of plaudits for finally ending Falkirk's miserable stay in the third tier and emphatically earning promotion to the Championship.
Image source, SNSBrad Lyons won't feature in Kilmarnock's final three matches
Midfielder Brad Lyons is out for Kilmarnock's three remaining games of the season with a hamstring injury, manager Derek McInnes has confirmed.
The Northern Ireland international, who has endured an injury-hit campaign, was a second-half substitute in Sunday's defeat at Rangers.
But the 26-year-old had to be removed soon after with an issue that will rule him out for up to three weeks.
However, McInnes has been boosted by the return of forward Greg Stewart, who is back in full training following a hernia operation.
And on James Balagizi, who has been out with a knee injury, McInnes said: "He’s not trained yet but we're hoping he could come into contention."
Kilmarnock travel to Paisley on Saturday looking to bounce back from their defeat to Rangers last time out.
What team would you like to start against St Mirren? Pick your Killie XI here.
Image source, SNSScotland Under-21 caps Lyall Cameron (left) & Connor Barron (right) make up two of the four-man shortlist
Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Lennon Miller and David Watson have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers Association's young player of the year award.
Kilmarnock teenager Watson claimed the PFA prize last week and will be looking to make it a double, but the teenager faces competition from fellow midfielders Cameron (Dundee), Miller (Motherwell) and Barron (Aberdeen).
Cameron and Miller, along with Rangers' Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland, were also in contention for the PFA award, but Aberdeen and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Barron replaces the Ibrox forward on the SFWA shortlist.
Since 2019, the SFWA prize has been restricted only to players who are eligible to play for Scotland's U21s.
Image source, SNSStuart Findlay hopes a sell-out away support can help inspire Kilmarnock to securing a fourth-placed finish at St Mirren this weekend.
The Ayrshire side travel to Paisley with a six-point advantage over Saturday’s opponents and know a win would mean they are officially out of reach.
"From what I've heard, Kilmarnock have sold out the away end already so it is going to be a massive game for both teams," centre-back Findlay said.
"It is up to us to try to cement that fourth position. [St Mirren and us] have been very close to each other and so far we have come out on top with two wins in three games."
Kilmarnock will make the trip to St Mirren on the back of a heavy 4-1 defeat to Rangers, during which they were reduced to 10 men after going a goal ahead.
"I think there were parts of the game, even with the 10 men, we know we have to do a bit better," Findlay said of Sunday's defeat.
"But I think the boys can be proud of the effort they put in. It is a hard place to go as it is, without going down to 10 men.
"It is a tough one to take. It is the heaviest defeat we have had (this season) and it is a bit harsh on us, but we have a really big game next, a perfect one to bounce back and I am sure we will do that."
Sandy Armour
Fan writer
I don't mean to sound like an old broken record but I hated VAR before its arrival in Scotland and I hate it even more now.
The opening 20 minutes at Ibrox on Sunday would drive fans away as a clueless VAR official tried to re-referee the game.
The constant needless stoppages ruined the game and if they thought Joe Wright's handball was deliberate they simply don't understand football.
Sunday wasn't all bad as David Watson won the young player of the year and deservedly so.
He's a credit to the club and to his family, I look forward to following his career when he moves on.
It's another huge game this Saturday as we travel to Paisley. A win or probably even a draw will secure fourth place and that is an excellent effort by all concerned.
Our record against St Mirren recently is superb and I think that will continue. The suitcase will be getting packed on Sunday.
Sandy Armour is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine
Image source, SNSCathy Jamieson is to remain on the Kilmarnock board once her six-year tenure as the Killie Trust director ends.
The former Labour politician and Scottish government minister was due to step down at the end of this month after serving her second and final stint on the board as the fan group's representative.
But she has accepted an offer to remain on the board in a non-executive position, supporting the work of the Killie Community charity and leading the club's child protection and wellbeing strategy.
"My role ends as the Trust's director, but I am delighted that the club has asked me to be on the board as a non-executive director," Jamieson said.
The Killie Trust has previously asked for notes of interest from members to become its new representative on the club board.
Dundee and Kilmarnock have targeted 25-year-old striker Bruce Anderson, who is poised to leave Livingston this summer at the end of his contract. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSDavid Watson thanked Derek McInnes for his "belief" after the Kilmarnock midfielder was named PFA Scotland young player of the year.
The Rugby Park boss gave the teenager his debut for the club, paving the way for a stellar season in which Killie have already secured European football.
"It's amazing," Watson told PFA Scotland, external. "It's a great honour to be nominated by my fellow players, and to win it is just even better.
"I think securing fourth will feel like the perfect ending. This is a great achievement to get young player of the year.
"I'd like to say thank you to my coaches when I was younger. Obviously the gaffer [Derek McInnes] for believing in me and giving me my first full-time start in the SPFL.
"There's a lot of amazing players and it's such a honour for them to see the season I've had and vote for me."
We asked for your thoughts after 10-man Kilmarnock were beaten 4-1 at Ibrox on Sunday.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Stephen: We did really well for 53 mins of the first half, but should have kept the ball to see it out, instead of an aimless punt upfield. Wrong call taking Danny off, leaving midfield light and two strikers with no service
Adam: Never a red card, Wright was falling backwards and the ball was hit from less than a foot away, so what was he to do? No wonder we don’t have any referees going to the Euros! Sorry to say referees ruined what would have been a great game.
John: We were doing okay, VAR doing all it could to get Rangers a penalty. Poor defending at some of the goals but had feeling we were going to lose a few goals. It was harsh on us but we are proud to give the Old Firm teams a fright at their places.
James: Game ruined by VAR. The first half was too much start stop and disrupted the game, for both clubs. Because of VAR and the time added on because of it gave Rangers an equaliser. If Killie had held on to the lead at half time maybe things would have been different. Killie can hold their heads high with 10 men for most of the game.
Robert: Surely a referee should be capable of using common sense. If a defender makes a goalkeeper-type save to stop a goal then a red card is fine. A clearly accidental handball like yesterday should never mean a red. Penalty and red is double punishment and totally unreasonable.
Watch highlights as Rangers beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes questions the need for eight minutes of first-half added time against Rangers, during which the Ibrox side equalised before going on to win 4-1. (Herald - subscription), external
McInnes says 'things transpired against' his side at Ibrox
Derek McInnes says the red card issued to defender Joe Wright, and the 4-1 scoreline, "was harsh" on his Kilmarnock side at Ibrox.
McInnes' men were a goal up at the point of Wright's dismissal for handball before going on to lose heavily.
