By Riordan Craig

The race to avoid the drop heats up tonight when Kilmarnock host St Mirren at Rugby Park.

The Ayrshire side are looking to claim back-to-back home wins for the first time since May 2025 when they beat Ross County and Dundee.

The Buddies, meanwhile, have failed to win each of their last eight games on the road, their last win away from home coming against Falkirk in September. This season, only Livingston have gained less points away from home than St Mirren.

Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last 13 league games at Rugby Park against St Mirren and are looking for a fourth straight win over the Buddies at home. In the league, Killie have lost just once to the Paisley side since their promotion to the top flight in 2022. They have one win and a draw, both without conceding, in the league against the Buddies this season.

Killie goalkeeper Max Stryjek is pushing to a return to first team action for the first time since the last meeting beaten the two teams at Rugby Park in October. Jamie Brandon is, also, looking for a return to first team action, whilst Matty Kennedy returned to training last week. Dominic Thompson is suspended following his red card against Rangers.

Mark O’Hara, Jonah Ayunga, and Keanu Baccus have all returned to training for the Buddies, but tonight’s game comes too soon for the trio. Jake Young is suspended, whilst Malik Dijksteel is out for a prolonged period following an injury he picked up against Airdrieonians.

A rare win in Ayrshire for the visitors will lift them up to eighth in the league, but a defeat would leave them just three points clear of the play-off spot, albeit with a game in hand.

A win for Kilmarnock, coupled with a defeat for Livingston at Parkhead, would put them nine points clear of bottom side Livingston.