ST MIRREN captain Jim Goodwin is unbowed in his belief that the Paisley side can push their way up the SPL table.

Danny Lennon's side are toiling at the wrong end of the league just now as they sit in second bottom.

However, Goodwin is convinced that they are capable of putting a run of results together that could propel them in the right direction – and he has not given up landing a top-six finish.

St Mirren have never finished the season in the top half of the table and although the odds are currently stacked against them, Goodwin is unperturbed.

St Mirren are off to Perth this weekend to take on a St Johnstone side who held Celtic to a draw on Tuesday night, and taking something from the game is imperative if those ambitions are to remain realistic.

"We all still think that we can do it," said Goodwin. "There are still 36 points to play for so anything is possible. Our focus is on getting as many points on board as we can.

"It may look like a big ask but the fact that there are only seven points between us and sixth-placed Kilmarnock suggests that it is still there for us.

"It was our aim at the start of the season and there is still plenty of belief that we are capable of getting there."

While St Mirren are entirely focused on pushing their way into a more respectable league position, they also have the League Cup final to look forward to as well as a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Celtic in their sights.

Impressing in the cup competitions will always play second fiddle to league form, but both tournaments have given Saints a lift this season. And Goodwin has insisted that there is no reason why Danny Lennon's side cannot do a cup double over the Hoops.

"I read Neil Lennon saying that he wanted to get us for a bit of revenge in the Scottish Cup," smiled Goodwin. "We played very well that day at Hampden when we booked our place in the League Cup final.

"We really tried to take the game to Celtic that day and I'm sure that many observers would agree that we were worth our win.

"We certainly believe that we can do it again. We have them on our own patch and although you need a bit of luck and you need players to play to their best, there is every chance that we can win it.

"There is no question that Celtic will want to come at us and get back at us for that game at Hampden.

"But there is no sense of apprehension on our part. We'll be up for it and we'll be ready for it.

"It is an exciting time that is on the horizon for us," said the Irishman. "We have the Cup tie against Celtic coming up as well as the League Cup final to look forward to.

"But our main priority right now is just getting up the table. We were a bit unlucky against Hibs last weekend but it is important that we put it behind us and kick on.

"It'll be a hard game up at Perth. They'll be lifted by getting the draw the other night but we have to go there and try and go about our business positively."