Beaten Scottish Cup semi-finalists St Mirren and Dundee United will compete for the higher final league position when they meet in the last round of Scottish Premiership fixtures on Sunday.
The Buddies are currently eighth in the table, one point ahead of the Tangerines in ninth; both teams can still finish as high as seventh, a spot currently occupied by Motherwell.
Match preview
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A seventh-place finish for St Mirren would represent their best league placing since 1989. Following promotion back to the Scottish top flight three years ago, the Paisley outfit have finish 11th and ninth; they have continued that upward trajectory this season, as well as reaching the semi-finals of both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.
St Mirren only lost out on competing in this year's Championship group on goal difference after winning just one of their final seven matches before the split; in the relegation group they have picked up four out of a possible 12 points.
Jim Goodwin's side drew 3-3 with Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, trailing 2-0 and 3-2 at Rugby Park before Collin Quaner's 83rd-minute equaliser earned them a point in a thrilling encounter.
They lost 2-1 to Hamilton Academical in their last home game - their first defeat in five matches at the SMiSA Stadium - but have won just four times there all season in the league.
Despite conceding the fewest goals in the bottom half, St Mirren have not kept a clean sheet since victory over Ross County at the end of February.
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Dundee United travel to the SMiSA Stadium as the league's lowest scorers, with their 2-2 draw with Motherwell on Wednesday being the first time they had netted more than once in a league game since mid-February.
They led 2-0 at the interval at Tannadice Park through goals from Lawrence Shankland and 19-year-old debutant Archie Meekison but were denied all three points by Devante Cole's equaliser in second-half stoppage time.
Nonetheless, Micky Mellon was still encouraged by the performance as the club's first season back in the top flight – after four years in the Championship – draws to a close.
Like St Mirren, Dundee United's hopes for the campaign boiled down to the Scottish Cup semi-finals last weekend, but they lost 2-0 to Hibernian at Hampden Park, while the visitors have won only four times in 18 away league matches this season.
The head-to-head between the sides so far this season stands at one St Mirren victory, one Dundee United victory and one draw. The Buddies were emphatic 5-1 winners in the last meeting at Tannadice Park in January.
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Team News
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Goodwin is hopeful of giving some game time to Eamonn Brophy, who is set to make his loan move from Kilmarnock permanent this summer but has not played since fracturing his foot against Hibernian in February.
Captain Joe Shaughnessy was rested in midweek after missing just three league matches all season but should return for this final game.
Cameron MacPherson and Quaner both came off the bench to score against Kilmarnock, so will be eager to start.
The news that Mark Connolly snapped his cruciate ligament in the closing stages of Dundee United's draw with Motherwell has come as a huge blow for Mellon; the centre-back is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Peter Pawlett picked up a knock against the Well and had to be substituted so he is a doubt, but attacking pair Marc McNulty and Nicky Clark are expected to return to the starting lineup.
Mellon gave opportunities to teenagers Kerr Smith and Meekison, as well as Celtic loanee goalkeeper Ross Doohan, in midweek and may give youth a chance again here.
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, McCarthy; Henderson, Doyle-Hayes, MacPherson, Connolly; McGrath; Obika, Quaner
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Doohan; L. Smith, K. Smith, Edwards, Sporle; Harkes, Fuchs, Meekison; McNulty, Shankland, Clark
We say: St Mirren 3-2 Dundee United
Although there is nothing too big riding on this game, both teams will be keen to try to claim seventh position so it could be an entertaining encounter. St Mirren have slightly more quality and have less injury worries than Dundee United, so we are backing the hosts to pick up all three points.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Dundee United win with a probability of 38.69%. A win for St Mirren had a probability of 33.35% and a draw had a probability of 28%.
The most likely scoreline for a Dundee United win was 0-1 with a probability of 11.72%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.08%) and 0-2 (7.21%). The likeliest St Mirren win was 1-0 (10.68%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.13%). The actual scoreline of 0-0 was predicted with a 9.5% likelihood.
