It has been labelled as the biggest game in the club’s history – and captain Jason Kerr agrees.
On Thursday night, St Johnstone can qualify for the group stages of the Europa Conference League.
Victory against Austrian side LASK at McDiarmid Park would also secure the Saints a significant cash boost.
The tie is finely balanced after last week’s 1-1 draw in Klagenfurt.
And Kerr said: “We know how big Thursday is.
“It’s definitely the biggest game in the club’s history. There were obviously a lot of big games last season.
“But the money you can get for winning this is massive. All of the players want to play at this level.
“It would mean the world to me. All of the big players are involved in European football throughout a season. I watch it on the TV but I want to be part of it. I want to play against the top teams. We’ll put everything we can into Thursday.
“Our name is up in lights in Scotland right now but to qualify for the group stage would take that to the next level.
“It would be the next step for us after winning the cups last season.”
Kerr, surely in with a shout of being included in the latest Scotland squad, was impressed with LASK last week.
Dominik Thalhammer’s team drew 1-1 with TSV Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.
“LASK are definitely a good side,” Kerr told the PA. “We had chances to extend our lead over there but it just wasn’t to be.
“It was a good result for us and we would have taken it before the game, but we were still disappointed not to come back with a lead.
“That shows you where we are as a squad. We don’t settle for less.
“We have a massive chance and I feel like we can beat them, especially at home.
“It’s a one-off game, all-square. We need to go into the game with quality and intent to win it.”
The East Stand and Main Stand sold out within a matter of hours of tickets going on sale over the weekend.
Much like the recent glamour Galatasaray fixture, Kerr expects a rocking atmosphere and is urging the whole city to unite again.
“I’m sure we will manage to sell the stadium out,” Kerr added. “It’s good to get that support from the fans with a full house.
“This is a much bigger game than the Galatasaray one. If we win, we are through to the group stages of European football.
“I can’t see any more incentive to get down to a game than that. If you are swithering, get yourself down.
“I know we have more than enough in the changing room to get through.”
Saints will welcome back David Wotherspoon for the big night, while manager Callum Davidson hopes to have Liam Gordon available.
Kerr was disappointed with the performance in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Dundee United but is sure levels will be upped for Thursday.
“I felt like we lacked energy,” he said. “I don’t know if you put that down to tiredness.
“We are professional athletes – we should be able to play two games in a week.
“We can’t make any excuses. We just weren’t at it. The quality wasn’t there like it should have been.”
“We’ll analyse the game and see what we can do better on Thursday.”
