Jack Ross says his players will be excited for tomorrow's clash with Renfrewshire rivals Morton who make the journey to the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the final match of 2016.
It will be Jack's first home derby match since taking over as manager and he admits that the support that Buddies fans will give makes it the type of game he wishes he was could play in.
He spoke to stmirren.com at the St Mirren training ground ahead of the Renfrewshire derby and praised the Saints support for the backing he and the team have received.
I was saying to Tony the other day that there's not many games which I wished I was still playing because I'm a manager and I enjoy coaching.
"But with games like tomorrow you get that buzz that you wish you were able to go out on the pitch because our stadium, when it's got a good crowd in it, is very good.
"The surface is excellent, there will be a big crowd at it and it's our responsibility then to feed them energy because if we do that then the supporters will respond to it. We've seen it in recent home and away matches. The fans that have been in attendance have fed off the performances and vice versa. All the players should be excited for it.
The manager realises what the match means to the supporters, but believes that in Saints current predicament there has to be a focus on taking each game as it comes.
I think it's just about us winning another game," Jack said. "That's not to take away the significance of the match as a club, but with the position we are in our need for victories means that's the focus. I think I said post-match at Cappielow that it wasn't a team that reflected how I go about things as a manager.
"But in fairness to the players the vast majority of the games post that night have shown that. I am confident that they will go and produce another performance that will go and enthuse supporters and hopefully we can get a result to match it.
"I enjoy the challenge of an occasion like this and I know what it means to the supporters," he continued. "I think the faith they have shown in me and the support they have given me means I want to put right what happened at Cappielow for them.
"The players are aware of the reaction they get from supporters home and away. It instils that greater sense of belief in them and I think tomorrow that will come again. But we never underestimate the responsibility we have to start the game in a manner that allows them to want to be behind us and that's what we'll do."
With the January transfer window fast approaching, Jack is hopeful that the deal to bring Craig Storie on loan from Aberdeen will be completed soon and hopes to tie up some more moves as quickly as possible despite the recent disappointment of a deal that fell through.
We hope to conclude the paperwork for Craig Storie that will allow him to join us next week," he explained.
"We had hoped to conclude a deal for a defender which fell through. We have two or three others that are very close depending on what ones can get done first. James [Fowler] and I have spent an awful lot of time over the last month looking at possibilities for us.
"January is a difficult window as there's not an abundance of players and the ones I bring in I want to make sure will strengthen the group in terms of their ability and character. We will bring two, three or four in if I can be creative in what I do and there will be a freshness with us as the month moves on."
