Jack Baird is looking forward to the challenges of life in the Scottish Premiership.
The centre-half made his Saints debut in 2014 in a Premiership match against Hamilton Academical.
But the vast majority of the 22 year-old's playing experience has come in the Championship.
With promotion back to the Premiership secured, Baird says he can't wait to test himself against the best the country has to offer and feels better equipped for the challenge than when he came into the team as a teenager.
Speaking to stmirren.com, Baird said: "I got a taste of it in the time I did play in the Premiership but it wasn't really enough.
I want to try and play as much as I can this season.
"I know it will be hard as the gaffer will bring in new players in my position, but I'm going to try my best to get in the team.
"I've had three full seasons in the Championship so I've grown up a wee bit. It's built up my character and I feel I am more ready for it when I made my debut.
"There's a lot of different places we will go. Different teams, hard places to go, stadiums I haven't played in before. There are lots of different things to look forward to this season.
"Coming up against bigger players, bigger teams, in massive stadiums with massive crowds will be big for me.
"I just want to get in the team and try to stay in the team. It's that simple for me. That's as far as I have looked at it."
Alan Stubbs joined the club last month and Baird admits he's excited at the prospect of learning from the new gaffer.
It's been good because a lot of managers I have played under haven't played at centre half.
"I've learned loads in the two weeks he has been in and hopefully by the end of the season I will have learned a lot more.
"The gaffer has played at the top level, if I can be half as good as him I will be delighted."
