I know, I know. It’s too soon to start looking the passports out just yet. But let’s be honest. This is a very exciting opportunity for this St Mirren team to make it back onto the European stage next year.
And what makes it even more tantalising is just how close within the club’s grasp that prospect is.
With Celtic heavy favourites to lift the Scottish Cup against Championship side Inverness Caley Thistle, a fifth-placed finish in the Premiership would be enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League next season – so long as the Hoops beat the Highlanders.
And given the Saints currently sit level with Hibs on 44 points in joint-fifth spot, and just four points behind Hearts in fourth, no one will tell me the Buddies aren’t serious contenders to book themselves a European adventure next season.
It’s been hugely enjoyable to speak to Tony Fitzpatrick and Paul Lambert over the last week, with both offering their memories of European nights both at Love Street and abroad back in the 1980s.
They weren’t just a flash in the pan. Saints qualified for the UEFA Cup three times in quick succession in the 80s, also making it into the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987 – their last trips on continental duty.
I think Lambert had it right when he said this is one of the best opportunities St Mirren will ever get to qualify for European football again.
Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts have all hit huge, sustained dips in form this season that has seen managers sacked and a barrel-load of points dropped.
With Dundee United also punching below their weight for the size of their budget, the quest to make European football is set to be even tougher next season – depending on whether the two Edinburgh clubs can recover like the Dons have since Barry Robson took charge.
I’m not saying that St Mirren can’t improve next season either.
With Stephen Robinson at the helm, if they can keep the majority of their key players together there’s no reason they can’t push on and achieve even more next year.
But make no mistake, this is a golden opportunity and Robinson will surely be desperate to grab it with both hands.
Not only will qualifying for Europe make a huge difference to the bank balance, retaining players and enticing new ones to join will also be much easier with the carrot of European football to dangle.
While having to travel to Aberdeen on a midweek night is far from ideal, the rest of the post-split fixtures have actually fallen rather nicely for the Buddies.
If the Paisley club can pick up three points at Easter Road tomorrow afternoon, that will put them in a brilliant position to welcome Hibs’ fierce rivals Hearts the following weekend.
Facing Rangers in Paisley on the last day of the season could also be pivotal.
Barring that woeful performance against Kilmarnock last time out, the Saints have been largely superb at the SMiSA Stadium and will likely be taking on a Glasgow side with very little to play for other than pride.
First things first is that trip to Leith. The clash against Kilmarnock was billed as a cup final by many of the Saints players, but this weekend’s clash has the potential to be just as pivotal.
If Robinson’s men can return with three points on Saturday night, it might just to be time to start checking that passport is ready to roll this summer.
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