Jim Weir is confident St Johnstone will recover from losing key personnel and avoid being dragged into a similar Premiership battle this season.
The former skipper, who still holds the club close to his heart, had a close-up look of the Perth side on Tuesday from his vantage point on the touchline as Elgin City assistant manager.
Saints ran out 4-2 winners in the Premier Sports Cup tie and are now hoping to piece together a positive run of form in the early part of the league campaign, which begins next weekend when Hibs come calling.
