MAYBURY READY TO FACE ABERDEEN IF REQUIRED

It’s the first home competitive match of the new season tomorrow when Saints welcome Aberdeen to McDiarmid Park for a 3pm kick-off. It’s one of only two SPL games tomorrow and the only 3pm kick-off.

Buoyed by a hard-fought and well-deserved point from the opening day excursion to Edinburgh, Derek McInnes takes his players into the game in confident mood and will be looking to make home advantage count.

Pending international clearance Alan Maybury goes straight into the squad for the game and the arrival of the former Hearts man is a timely boost for the manager’s selection options. Dave MacKay and Danny Grainger are both very doubtful tomorrow and although Grainger’s knee injury has improved significantly enough to allow him to do some training, his participation is by no means assured.

On the signing of Maybury, Derek McInnes says: “The injury and suspension situation has highlighted the need for someone but this is no short-term signing. Alan will bring something to the squad for the entire season – that’s why we have given him a year’s contract. He knows the league and will bring a experience, versatility and ability to the squad.”

Alan has spoken to the Saints Official Website this morning – click the link to listen.

Steven Anderson sits this one out with an automatic one-game ban after his red card indiscretion at Tynecastle.

This will be the Dons’ third visit to Perth since mid-March but they will come to the Fair City in better fettle than the previous two occasions thanks to their thumping 4-0 home win over Hamilton Accies on the opening day of the season. Former Saint Paul Hartley was the architect of that success with a well-taken hat-trick of penalties.

They are likely to be backed by around 3,000 members of the Red Army and that makes the backing of the Perth support even more important.

Speaking in tomorrow’s match programme, new captain Jody Morris says: “Please get behind us today and throughout the season. I know it is a bit of old cliché to say that a good support can be like a twelfth man but it is true – it definitely helps the players to know that they have the backing of the fans and a good atmosphere in the stands can transfer itself to the pitch.

“There were some cracking atmospheres in games at McDiarmid Park last season and I would urge you all to help recreate that at all the games. We have to work in tandem to make it a memorable season for the club.”

Jody’s comments come in the Curtain Raiser feature in the new match programme which this season has increased in size by eight pages to 40 pages but remains priced at £2.50.

TOMORROW’S GAME:

KICK OFF 3pm

GETTING TO THE GAME All supporters are advised that there is a race meeting at Scone Racecourse tomorrow and with upwards of 8,000 expected at that, traffic will be busy. Aberdeen fans are strongly urged to keep to the dual carriageway routes and reach McDiarmid Park via the Friarton Bridge. Travelling fans should note that they require to drive past the stadium to the Inveralmond Roundabout and then back up the dual carriageway for half a mile to the slip road for the stadium.

Car parking is available at the ground at a cost of £3 per car – coaches and mini-buses are free.

ADMISSION It’s cash at the turnstiles for all.

Aberdeen fans will be accommodated in both the North and South (Ormond) Stands both of which are open from 2pm.

REFEREE Steven McLean

CAN'T GET TO THE GAME? Live commentary of the game is available in the UK on the BBC Radio Scotland website.

The St Johnstone Official Website will have text commentary throughout the game.

Highlights of the latest games are available on the BBC website from 6pm on Sunday

For the second successive week Saints are the featured game for BBC ALBA who will broadcast the game in full from 5.30pm. BBC ALBA is broadcast on Sky channel 168 and Freesat channel 110

THE LAST TIME AT McDIARMID: The season was drawing to a close when Aberdeen visited Perth in April and Dons went into the game with their relegation worries greatly eased if not altogether extinguished. The 12 noon kick-off for TV coverage saw the reds take a 15th minute lead through Steven McLean and it looked as if that would be enough to give the visitors the win but in the 89th minute Andy Jackson knocked the ball over the line from close range to make it 1-1, although the goal was later put down as an own goal by Dons keeper Stuart Nelson.

SAINTS: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, MacKay, Rutkiewicz, Morris, Millar, Davidson, Morais (Deuchar),Sheridan (Jackson), Samuel (Craig). Subs not used: Main, Anderson, Gartland, Sheerin

ABERDEEN: Nelson, Foster, Ifil, Duff, Young, Marshall (Paton), Grassi, Kerr, McLean, Mackie, Aluko (Fyvie). Subs: Langfield, Robertson, Gibson, Shaughnessy, Hansson

referee: Dougie McDonald

Att: 3,295

THIS WEEKEND'S OTHER SPL GAMES: Saturday, Hamilton v Hearts

Sunday Hibernian v Rangers Celtic v St Mirren Dundee Utd v Inverness CT Kilmarnock v Motherwell

PHOTO: Marcus Haber leads the way in training today