St Mirren will 'embrace' challenge of consecutive top-six finishes for first time in 39 years

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson says his side will “embrace” the challenge of securing consecutive top-six finishes in the Premiership for the first time in 39 years.

A win against Hearts in Paisley on Saturday will guarantee a place in the top half with a game to go before the split takes place, no matter the results elsewhere.

The last time they achieved that feat back-to-back was back in the 1984/85 season.

And the manager says that just shows how far they have come and how high expectations at the club have risen over the last couple of seasons.

But with a trip to play the title chasing champions at Celtic Park the following week, in what will be their last game before the league splits into two for the remaining five games, they are keen to get the job done this weekend.

A point against Steven Naismith’s side could also be enough if seventh placed Hibs drop points at home to St Johnstone.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Robinson said: “We’re looking forward to it, we can’t wait, we’re going to have a big crowd, the conditions might not be great but the support will come out and back us again.

“In our eyes we have earned the right to be there, we are playing against a very good Hearts side, to get that far ahead in third is a fantastic achievement for them.

“But it is a game we believe we can take something from and guarantee our place in the top six.

“If you look at the history, and I know expectation levels have risen massively here, but we haven’t had consecutive top-six finishes for 39 years, so that tells you it’s not a habit and shouldn’t be something that is expected, but it is a credit to this group of players and staff that we have got ourselves into this position to raise expectations.

“We have to embrace it and that’s what we want to do, we don’t go into the game with any fear and it is something we are going to enjoy.”