Live Commentary

Davidson a doubt for Saints St Johnstone are sweating over the fitness of Callum Davidson ahead of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Hearts. The defender is a doubt after tweaking his hamstring and the club will make a late decision on his fitness ahead of the visit of the Jambos. Better news for Saints is the return of Cillian Sheridan from suspension. Striker Fran Sandaza believes the desire for revenge will be Saints' motivation on Saturday. Sandaza and his team-mates were beaten by Hearts in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals in January and the controversial nature of the loss left everyone at McDiarmid Park hurting after the award of a late penalty. He told the Perthshire Advertiser "Obviously we were all disappointed with the way the last Hearts game finished because we felt we'd done enough to get through. "So it was a sore one seeing them get through to the semi-finals but that's football and we won't be dwelling on it. "We have our own season to play for, everyone at the club wants to get a place in Europe for next season. "So it's not about revenge for the cup game, it's about taking us a step closer to getting fourth place. "Beating Hearts would be a massive result for us because it would open up a gap, especially as we have a game in hand against Inverness next week. "But Hearts are a good team and it won't be easy. "They have a lot of good players and have been having a good season. "But we are at home and come into the game on the back of a good result against St Mirren last weekend so we have confidence." Hearts were awaiting a fitness update on Mehdi Taouil and Stephen Elliott. Midfielder Taouil (back) and striker Elliott (hip) missed the midweek William Hill Scottish Cup win at St Mirren, but could return in Perth. Winger David Templeton (groin) is set to miss out again, but could return to contention for the Aberdeen clash. The capital club enter this weekend's fixtures eight points clear of seventh-placed Kilmarnock with three games remaining until the split and knowing a couple more good results will seal their top-six place. First-team coach Gary Locke, though, is keen to climb above fifth-placed Saints and fourth-placed Dundee United to secure European football next term. "The next two or three games are vital for ourselves," he said. "If we can get a couple of wins it puts us in the mix and we've got each other to play after the league splits. "If we can put a few wins together, hopefully we can clinch a European place."