Preview: Kilmarnock vs. St Johnstone - prediction, team news, lineups

Despite both starting the weekend outside the bottom two, the two clubs are both still embroiled in the fight at the bottom.

Match preview

With just three games left of the season in Scotland, only five points separate the bottom four, with Kilmarnock and St Johnstone safe for now.

The two sides below them are away this weekend, so both will see this as an opportunity to move clear heading into the penultimate matchday next week.

Kilmarnock are finding form at the perfect time, especially as they only registered their first away win of the campaign by beating sixth-placed St Mirren 2-0 on the final day of the regular season.

A win by the same scoreline last weekend against Livingston saw Killie move out of the bottom two, continuing their excellent home form which is far and away the best out of all the other relegation candidates.

Kilmarnock have won 29 of their 34 points here at Rugby Park, averaging 1.7 points-per-game at home across the season so far.

With the six sides all facing each other once in the Relegation group, Kilmarnock have already faced the two highest-ranked sides, so knowing that they only have the bottom two left to play after this week and their fate being in their own hands should bring some comfort to Derek McInnes's side.

McInnes will know he is facing a side with a decent away record though, as St Johnstone's form on the road is the only thing keeping them out of the bottom two, as the Saints have the worst home record in the division.

Currently sitting two points ahead of their upcoming opponents, St Johnstone still need four points from their final three games to ensure survival.

That is due to their defeat at home to Motherwell last weekend, which extended a poor run of form which has seen them win only one of their last nine games, scoring four goals in the process.

That win came against a 10-man Dundee United who now find themselves bottom of the standings.

History could repeat itself for St Johnstone as they needed the relegation playoff to maintain their top-flight status last season, beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6-2 on aggregate in the final.

Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:

W

L

L

W

L

W

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

L

D

W

L

Team News

Following their 2-0 win last weekend, McInnes may be reluctant to make many changes, if any, to his side here.

Kilmarnock remain without Innes Cameron and Ben Chrisene, neither of whom have featured in the past four months.

St Johnstone will be without midfielder Nicky Clark for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

Murray Davidson is also missing for the visitors having not played since September, but Drey Wright is on course to complete an ever-present season, having featured in all 35 league games so far.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Walker; Mayo, Wright, Dorsett, Chambers; Armstrong, Watson, Donnelly, McKenzie; Doidge, Vassell

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Matthews; Brown, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery; Wright, Phillips, Carey, MacPherson, Murphy; May

We say: Kilmarnock 1-1 St Johnstone

Kilmarnock often get all their points at home while St. Johnstone are usually better on the road, so there is not much to separate these two relegation candidates.

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