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Squad players keen to shine - McCall Motherwell manager Stuart McCall is hoping the absence of Michael Higdon and Stephen Craigan will inspire his fringe players to step up to the mark. Both Craigan and Higdon will miss Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone through suspension, but McCall insists their absence presents a great opportunity for his squad players who are desperate for first-team football. Omar Daley, Chris Humphrey, Robert McHugh and Tim Clancy will all be hoping to be given a chance against Steve Lomas' side. "Obviously the suspensions open the door for other players to come in and, while we will be without the physical presence that Michael has, we will be looking at different options that we can throw at St Johnstone," McCall said. "Players are ready to come in, Tim Clancy came on after Stephen Craigan was sent off on Tuesday night and did well. We also have options in the wide areas and up front, who are all desperate to be playing." Higdon was handed a one-match ban for making an apparent gesture when celebrating his goal in Saturday's draw against Dundee United. Motherwell appealed the decision, but the Scottish Football Association confirmed the ban would stand after a 45-minute hearing at Hampden on Thursday. Earlier in the week, McCall voiced his disapproval of the SFA's 'trial by television' process, but has urged his team to now move on. "You get the right to appeal and I felt we had a good chance of winning. It's a subjective view, though, as to whether a gesture is offensive," McCall added. "Michael's gesture was deemed to be low-scale offensive, which still carries the same punishment as a high-scale offensive gesture (a one-match ban). "We have to move on and take our medicine. We are without two influential players down the spine of the side, but the lads are in confident mood after the Dunfermline game - not just in the result but the way they performed as well." McCall is expecting a tough test when St Johnstone visit Fir Park. Motherwell regained third spot in the SPL table with a 3-1 victory over Dunfermline on Tuesday, and they currently hold a three-point advantage over fifth-placed Saints. In the last two meetings between the two teams the away side have recorded a 3-0 victory. "We face a really difficult game. St Johnstone have performed better away from home this season, much like ourselves, and we don't need to be reminded that they came to Fir Park and won 3-0 in our last game at Fir Park," McCall said. "When Derek McInnes left a few people may have thought they would have experienced a bit of a dip, but Steve Lomas has done very well. "It will be a really difficult game but we are confident if we bring our best game then we can come away with a good victory." Frazer Wright and Chris Millar are back in contention for St Johnstone after overcoming thigh and hamstring injuries respectively. Saints boss Lomas believes his side have not been given the credit their football has deserved this season. Lomas' side travel to Lanarkshire on the back of a fine 3-2 win against Hibernian at Easter Road last week. However, it rankles with Lomas, who took over the McDiarmid Park hot seat in November following the departure of McInnes to English Championship team Bristol City, that more emphasis has been put on his side's tenacity rather than their talent. "I have been nothing but pleased with the lads since I came here," he told Press Association Sport. "Even when we get beat the players give me everything. "If you compare our budgets with other clubs we should be nowhere near where we are. "That is a credit to the lads' team spirit but also their quality. "People go on about St Johnstone being a workmanlike side but we have quality as well. "It has the makings of a good game on Saturday. "Motherwell have good players, a good togetherness which they showed in their recent win against Dunfermline when they went down to 10 men and still dominated the ball." The Northern Irishman is praying that Tuesday's transfer window closes with 14-goal striker Francisco Sandaza, who scored the winner against Hibs and who was a recent target of Rangers, still at McDiarmid Park. "We wish the transfer window was shut but it is still open," said Lomas. "We hope that Fran will be with us for the rest of the season so we can reap the benefits of a player in good form who is desperate to play at a higher level. "I understand that but if he scores 25 goals then I'm sure clubs will be desperate to get him in the summer."