St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright insists he will not make an excuse out of his side's early start to the season if they crash against Europa League rivals FC Alashkert.

The Perth outfit will return to action just five-and-a-half weeks after rounding off last term's campaign when they take on the Armenians in tomorrow's opening round of the Europa League qualifiers.

They face a 3,000-mile outward journey ahead of the first leg, which will be played at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium - home of Armenia's national team - in the capital Yerevan.

But Wright believes his side are already back up to speed following three friendly clashes with Linfield, Glenavon and Aberdeen.

And the Northern Irishman dismissed any suggestion Saints might still be finding their feet after their summer break.

He said: "I think that is weak. It's weak mentally to make the early start an excuse.

"To be honest, the Press make too much of it. Look at us, we played Rosenborg a couple of years ago in the middle of their season and beat them. We beat Luzern, who started at the same time as us last season.

"I think it's weak and it's weak people who use that as an excuse. If we lose it won't be because of (our early start).

"But we're not thinking about losing. We're going there to win."

Saints chairman Steve Brown has already made his feelings known on the difficulties of planning a trip to the crossroad between Eastern Europe and Western Asia at the height of holiday season.

And Wright has found it just as tough doing his homework on Alashkert, who finished last season's Armenian Premier League in fourth.

The McDiarmid manager has managed to get his hands on footage from last term but has not yet been able to see how their seven new signings will fit into Abraham Khashmanyan's side.

However, after going unbeaten on their travels to Rosenborg, Minsk, Luzern and Spartak Trnava over the past two seasons, he is confident his side can again do the business away from home.

He said: "There's been a lot made of the distance we're travelling and the heat we encounter when we get over there - but we will deal with it.

"That's what we have got to do. We are professionals and we have prepared properly. We're looking forward to the game.

"We've got a lot of footage of them from last season but they've made seven changes and unfortunately we haven't been able to get any footage of them this season. We have, though, seen some clips of the guys they've brought in so we have a fair idea of the players they have available to them.

"We've got as much information as we possibly can and I'm expecting a tough game. It is a tie that on paper, we can win. But football isn't played on paper. We have to go out and do it."