Motherwell are aiming to become record breakers by setting their longest ever unbeaten run in the Scottish Premier League by avoiding defeat at St Johnstone on Saturday afternoon. Don’t forget, you can keep up-to-date with the game live thanks to STV Sport’s live Saturday updates.

Craig Brown's team are nine games without an SPL defeat, with the former Scotland boss and his assistant Archie Knox having lost just twice since they took over from Jim Gannon in December. Only a loss at Hearts at Hearts in their first match and away to Inverness in the cup blot their copybook, with six wins from their last nine league games.

They may have to do without star striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, with the on-loan Everton player still struggling with a knee injury. Marc Fitzpatrick and Shaun Hutchinson remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries but Jim O'Brien has recovered from illness and should feature.

Hosts St Johnstone may have to do without key central midfield duo Jody Morris and Murray Davidson. Morris is still struggling with a stomach complaint, while fellow midfielder Davidson faces a late fitness test on the groin strain that forced him out of the Scotland Under-21 squad this week.

Graham Gartland has recovered sufficiently from an infection, Kenny Deuchar should play through the pain of an ankle problem and Kevin Moon should be fit to play. But the game comes too soon for captain Kevin Rutkiewicz (knee), while Martin Hardie (knee), Peter MacDonald (knee) and Stuart McCaffrey remain out.

‘Well defender Mark Reynolds has been part of a backline that has incredibly shipped just one league goal – to Rangers – in 2010 and says that the consistency in team selection by Brown is the key reason behind their run of form.

"We know from the start of the week roughly who is going to be playing and it's just about bringing in flair players or players to suit the team we're playing,” said the 22-year-old defender. "We've got a backbone to the team now and we know that's going to be good enough to keep teams out.

"It's that consistency of selection that has helped us go on this run."

Home manager Derek McInnes says that he isn’t surprised in the slightest at the effect Brown and Knox have had on transforming Motherwell’s fortunes.

The Saints and Steelmen meet in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tomorrow for the first time since Boxing Day, when McInnes' men won 3-1 at Fir Park. Gannon was sacked two days later for failing to sign a contract, though Motherwell were also on a seven-match winless run at the time.

The experienced pair can now make it 10 times without defeat and McInnes, who will mark his 100th game as Saints boss, praised them for their minor miracle.

"There are very few more knowledgeable than Craig Brown,” said McInnes. "He's got Archie in alongside him, somebody he knows very well and somebody I've worked with. I know exactly the preparation and the motivation that the players will be getting at the minute."

"You're never surprised by what happens in football. There was a tendency a couple of years ago when I got my opportunity to give a lot of younger managers chances.

"It seems to have swung a wee bit now, people are going for tried and tested and an experienced hand."

Despite being 13 points adrift of tomorrow's fifth-placed hosts, McInnes is adamant the sides are well matched, with Saints having three games in hand.

"I don't think there's a lot between us and Motherwell if truth be told, but the league table would show differently because they've gone on a really good run of late,” he added. “We're well aware of the task tomorrow."

St Johnstone team (from): Smith, Grainger, Gartland, Duberry, MacKay, Anderson, Morris, Craig, Moon, Davidson, Morais, Sheerin, Millar, Milne, Sheridan, Samuel, McLean, Irvine, Connolly, Deuchar.

Motherwell team (from): Ruddy, Hateley, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Jennings, Lasley, Coke, O'Brien, Murphy, Sutton, Jutkiewicz, Saunders, Forbes, Humphrey, McGlinchey, McHugh, Fraser.