St Mirren will look to close in on the top three in the Scottish Premiership when they welcome Hibernian to Paisley on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors, meanwhile, could leapfrog their opponents in the top-flight standings if they can claim maximum points.
Match preview
© Reuters
After failing to win each of their opening four matches in 2023, St Mirren have since claimed three successive victories across all competitions, with a Scottish Cup penalty-shootout win over Dundee followed by Premiership triumphs over Motherwell and Aberdeen.
The Buddies secured a slender 1-0 home win over Motherwell before beating 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 at Pittodrie on Wednesday, with striker Curtis Main scoring three goals across those two matches to double his tally for the season to six.
Stephen Robinson's side have now won nine of their 23 Premiership fixtures this term and they currently sit fourth in the table, six points behind third-placed Hearts who have played a game more.
St Mirren have fared much better on home soil so far this season, accumulating 25 of their 33 points at the SMiSA Stadium, and they are unbeaten in each of their last 11 home league games.
However, the Buddies have won only one of their last eight home meetings against Hibs, a 1-0 victory in August, so they will be wary of the threat that the visitors could pose on Saturday.
© Reuters
Hibernian endured a torrid run of form between mid-October and the beginning of January, losing nine out of 11 Premiership matches and conceding 26 goals in the process.
However, Lee Johnson's side appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks as they have won two and drawn two of their last five games – a disappointing 3-0 Scottish Cup loss to Edinburgh rivals Hearts the only exception during this run.
Hibs responded from that derby defeat in emphatic fashion as they secured a 6-0 Premiership victory at home against Aberdeen, before playing out a 1-1 draw away at Ross County last weekend, with Yan Dhanda cancelling out Elie Youan's opener.
The Cabbage, who finished eighth in the top flight last season, currently sit sixth in the table, just two points behind Saturday's opponents St Mirren and eight points behind Hearts in third.
Hibs secured a comfortable 3-0 home win over St Mirren in their most recent meeting in October, ending a five-game winless run against the Buddies, and they will hope to replicate their strong performance at the SMiSA Stadium this weekend.
Team News
© Reuters
St Mirren attacker Jonah Ayunga and defender Richard Tait are facing a few weeks on the sidelines with respective knee and groin injuries.
After selling Ethan Erhahon to Lincoln City on deadline day, Greg Kiltie started in centre-midfield alongside Keanu Baccus and Mark O'Hara against Aberdeen, and the same trio are set to continue in the middle of the pitch on Saturday.
Main is poised to retain his place up front, while January loan signing Tony Watt will be pushing to make his full debut after coming on as a substitute last time out.
As for Hibs, Martin Boyle and Rocky Bushiri remain out with injuries, while Kevin Nisbet, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Kyle Magennis and Mykola Kukharevych are all doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Burnley loanee CJ Egan Riley came off the bench to make his debut last weekend and the defender could be involved from the start on Saturday if Johnson decides to give ever-present right-back Chris Cadden a rest.
Striker Matthew Hoppe joined on loan from Middlesbrough on deadline day and the American may make his full debut if Nisbet is not deemed fit to start.
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Carson; Fraser, Gogic, Dunne; Strain, Kiltie, O'Hara, Baccus, Tanser; Watt, Main
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Cadden, Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson; McGeady, Newell, Jeggo, Campbell, Youan; Hoppe
We say: St Mirren 2-1 Hibernian
A closely-fought contest between two evenly-matched sides will likely to take place in Paisley, with the winners set to finish the weekend in fourth spot.
Hibs have fared well in recent meetings with St Mirren, but we believe that the hosts will do just enough to secure a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
