The top six.
While St Mirren have endured a campaign like no other off the field, on the pitch the target has been the same from the start.
It’s dominated headlines and, following the Buddies’ incredible win at Celtic Park, it finally became a reality.
Manager Jim Goodwin ’s side had fought their way into the top half of the table, exactly where both he and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick want the club to finish come the end of the season.
Unfortunately, getting there was the easy bit compared to what’s coming next.
Now it’s all about whether the Saints can hold their nerve and still be holding onto a top half spot come the split in March.
The Paisley club have plenty going in their favour to achieve a feat they haven’t managed since the Scottish Premier League was formed back in 1998.
Their biggest advantage was handed back to them by their successful SFA appeal, which could end up being one of the best decisions the club has made over the last few decades.
That has given them a shot at Hamilton and Motherwell at the SMISA Stadium this month. If top six is to be achieved then these are two games the Saints must be targeting six points from.
The Buddies also have another four home games in Paisley this month, including tomorrow’s clash with Kilmarnock and a visit from struggling side Ross County.
Killie are one of the club’s three main threats to finishing in the top half this season, and Goodwin knows a win over the Ayrshire side tomorrow would put a healthy eight-point gap between them and the currently manager-less side - still with two games in hand.
Which brings us on to the Buddies’ second biggest advantage on their assault on the top half this month – extra games on their nearest rivals.
Currently, Dundee United, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock are the clubs breathing down St Mirren’s neck in the race for sixth place.
Thanks to the Buddies’ excellent recent wins over Celtic and the Terrors, they currently sit a point ahead of the Tannadice side - as well as two ahead of St Johnstone and five ahead of Killie.
If Goodwin’s side can muster wins against Motherwell and Hamilton later this month, as well as a reasonable return from their other five remaining games this month, it will be extremely difficult for any of the chasing pack to claw back ground on the Buddies.
Next month there are just two fixtures remaining before the all-important split.
First up is a truly daunting trip to Ibrox to take on Rangers, which will obviously be a very difficult task to come away with any sort of positive result.
But St Mirren’s last and potentially decisive game before the split comes against Hamilton in Lanarkshire.
With no disrespect to the Accies, that’s a much more appetising final fixture than a trip to Celtic Park, Pittodrie or Easter Road.
On the same day, Kilmarnock take on Motherwell, Dundee United host Aberdeen and St Johnstone take on Ross County.
On paper, the Buddies have the most desirable final fixture should the pressure be on and a draw or a win be needed to secure that top half finish.
Yes, the number of games this month is going to be both a blessing and a curse. While they offer plenty of opportunities for points, they will also no doubt push the players to their physical and mental limits.
Goodwin knows he is going to have to carefully manage his squad to ensure there’s not too much burnout and not too many tight hamstrings.
But, given everything the club have had thrown at them this season, they would absolutely have settled for the position they find themselves in right now, heading into their last nine games before the split.
Now it’s time for the players to grab this promising opportunity and make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
