Marcus Fraser believes a welcome weekend off will help St Mirren press on in their quest for a top-six finish.
With just five games left before the split, the Buddies are well-placed in sixth spot but know from experience how tough it is to stay there.
The Saints missed out on a top half finish in 2021 on goal difference alone, with a late leveller at Hamilton costing them dearly.
Fraser was involved that day and is determined to avoid suffering similar heartache this season after an excellent campaign to date.
And the 28-year-old, who finished in the top-six with Ross County in 2016, feels having the weekend off ahead of their crucial trip to Tannadice on Saturday to face Dundee United could be a blessing in disguise.
The centre back hopes the extra time off has given every St Mirren player the chance to recharge their batteries ahead of one final push to get their top-six tilt over the finish line.
He told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “We’ve got big games coming up and everybody needs to be ready. That Dundee United game is huge for us.
“The break will give the injured boys a chance to get back fit before our next game. They’ll have another week to ten days under their belt in training.
“Our training is so intense and you need to have that high energy. We press high every game and that takes a lot out of you.
“Definitely the boys will be back up to speed. We have a lot still to play for and hopefully everyone is ready for it.
“The Celtic result before the break was obviously disappointing, but you have to be clear in your thoughts to go again.
“We know where we are in the season and what we want to achieve.
“It is a big push ahead and we are going to need everyone in these last few weeks.
“The full team and full squad are all going to play a part and we know what we need to do.
“These last few games before the split are crucial and we need to be ready for them all.”
This Saturday Fraser will going up against a manager he knows well in Jim Goodwin, the boss who brought him to Paisley from Ross County back in the summer of 2020.
Goodwin has been charged with keeping Dundee United in the top flight, with the Terrors currently sitting dead bottom of the division.
Fraser insists his side will be ready for the challenge at Tannadice, adding: “I’ve watched a bit of their games so far and I thought they did well.
“We’ll be ready for him though. However we set up, we’ll be going for the win.”
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