by Stuart Gillespie

Like ourselves, Kilmarnock have undergone a number of changes in the summer, the most important one being in the manager's office. Having had the same man in charge for the best part of eight years, they are now on their third one of 2010. Jim Jefferies left in January and was replaced by Jimmy Calderwood before he also left, having guided Killie to SPL survival. Now it's the turn of former Cowdenbeath and Hibs boss - and one time Saints player - Mixu Paatelainen to fill the hot seat. The big Finn was out of work for just over a year after leaving Easter Road and his task for the season will be to keep Kilmarnock in the SPL. A win over Aberdeen before the break suggests he's on the right track.

The Ayrshire club's playing squad has also seen a number of changes over the summer, with several players leaving and a few arriving. The most high profile of the departures was Kevin Kyle, who moved to Hearts after a successful 18 months at Kilmarnock. Also out are Allan Russell, Mark Burchill, Simon Ford and David Fernandez, while Mark Brown and Chris Maguire left following the end of their loan spells. Importantly, Paatelainen has managed to keep a hold of the club's prize asset. Craig Bryson was wanted by Hearts, now managed by Jefferies, over the summer but they were unable to make an offer tempting enough for Kilmarnock to let him go. The talented midfielder will be a key player for Killie and him staying at Rugby Park is a real boost for the club.

Despite the limited resources he has to work with, Paatelainen has made some impressive signings over the summer. Getting a midfielder of the calibre of Mahamadou Sissoko on loan from Udinese is a real coup, and he has also used the loan system to bring in Finnish international Alexei Eremenko, a forward who has bagged 13 goals from his country. Two youngsters have arrived from down south, with defender Ben Gordon being borrowed from Chelsea and keeper Harry Forrester coming from Aston Villa. Other summer arrivals include Portuguese midfielder David Silva and winger James Dayton, who has come in from non-league football in England.

Despite the changes, there are still plenty of familiar faces in the Killie squad. Mehdi Taouil and Danny Invincible are always tricky players to face and Conor Sammon provides some physical presence up front. Manuel Pascali provides grit in midfield and the likes of Frazer Wright and Garry Hay are usually strong at the back. They also still have former Saints keeper Alan Combe on their books, although injuries restricted him to just four games last season.

Saints had an almost unblemished record against Kilmarnock last season, winning four of the five meetings between the two sides. The two games at St Mirren Park ended 1-0 to the home side, Chris Innes and Andy Dorman respectively with the late winners. The first two games at Rugby Park saw Saints win 2-1, McGinn scoring three of the goals and Dorman scoring a late winner in a League Cup tie. The other game at Kilmarnock finished 1-1, Billy Mehmet's final Saints goal cancelling out Chris Maguire's opener. Kilmarnock last beat Saints in May 2009 with Kevin Kyle bagging a double in a 2-1 win that saw Dennis Wyness score for the Buddies.

The international break should have allowed a few of Saints injury problems to clear up and there's a chance both Steven Thomson and David Barron could make their returns. However, Paul McQuade is not fully fit, Michael Higdon looks like being out for a wee while and Craig Dargo is also set to miss out against his former club, so once again Danny Lennon's striking options will be limited to Gareth Wardlaw and Paul McGowan. Aside from Dargo, Higdon and McQuade, everyone else should be available and new signing Nick Hegarty could be handed his debut at some stage. Both Wardlaw and Darren McGregor have been impressive since stepping up to the SPL from Cowdenbeath and will want to keep proving the doubters wrong by putting in another decent display tomorrow. Back-up goalie Craig Samson started his career at Rugby Park but will have to make do with a place on the bench.

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