by Stuart Gillespie

This is Hamilton's first season in Scotland's top League for 20 years and their start was similar to the one Saints enjoyed a few years ago. Wins in their first two games - against Dundee United and Inverness Caley Thistle - have been followed up with a superb win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, but things have gone slightly down hill in their last few fixtures as they've conceded eight goals to Celtic and Falkirk and only have an own goal to show for their efforts.

Nonetheless, Billy Reid's side have deservedly had a lot of praise since their arrival in the League as First Division champions and will see tomorrow's game as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Reid has gone with several younger players over the last few seasons, the most notable being James McCarthy. The midfielder - who turns 18 next month - has been linked with a number of top clubs even at this early stage in his career and even turned down a move to Liverpool a few years ago to finish his football education with Hamilton. He's also gained a lot of attention in recent weeks after pledging his international future to the Republic of Ireland. Like Celtic's Aiden McGeady, McCarthy opted to play for Ireland even though he was born in Scotland and has opted to stick with his choice despite the best efforts of the SFA.

Tomorrow will be the first time Saints come up against Mark Corcoran since the winger decided to leave Paisley for Hamilton in the summer. Coco came to Paisley in 2005 straight from Hamilton and decided to return there to seek more first team opportunities - although he has only had one start so far this season. Brian Carrigan is another former Accie who returned to Hamilton in the summer when Reid signed him from junior side Linlithgow Rose, but the forward has yet to make a first team appearance.

Last time out, Saints brought to an end a wait of more than 20 years for a home win over Rangers and it's a similar period of time since they managed to record an away success over Hamilton. You have to go all the way back to 1988-1989 - the last time both sides were in the top flight - for an away win over Accies, with Saints prevailing 4-2.

There is a slightly more recent success over Reid's side away from Love Street, when Saints won 2-1 in the League Challenge Cup Final at New Broomfield in November 2005. The other games that season saw a home and away win for Hamilton, a home win for Saints and a goalless draw at New Douglas Park. Promotion to the SPL has forced Accies to rip up their artificial pitch and replace it with grass and it'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference to Saints' fortunes tomorrow.

There are now just four members of the Saints first team squad that were involved in the cup win over Hamilton left at Love Street, such has been the turnaround in personnel in the last few years. Billy Mehmet is one of them and while he was a sub back then, he'll almost certainly start tomorrow. Of the other three, only captain John Potter is likely to feature in the starting line-up, with Hugh Murray and Chris Smith having to make do with a place on the bench once more.

On the injury front, Jim Hamilton sadly looks set to miss out against the team he shares his name with, while David Barron is also still on the sidelines and Tom Brighton is a doubt. Everyone else should be fit and free from suspension and manager Gus MacPherson is likely to go with the same side and formation that did so well against Rangers - although Franco Miranda is back in contention after serving his ban. One other change could be Stephen McGinn, who may be rewarded for his famous winner a fortnight ago with a place in the starting 11.

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