Stephen McGinn says that St Mirren’s young guns will never again experience pressure like they have played under as they have clawed themselves to the brink of staying in the Championship.

One of the oldest clichés in the footballing lexicon is treating big games like cup finals, but St Mirren have been forced to adopt such an approach since January such was the desperation of their plight.

From being cut adrift at the bottom of the table though, the Saints have fought valiantly to drag themselves up to eighth, and a point at Hibs today would guarantee their safety.

And as McGinn and his teammates gear up for one last huge effort, he has spoken of his pride in watching young players like Stevie Mallan and Kyle Magennis flourishing in the most taxing of circumstances.

"For whatever they do in their careers, some of these young boys may go down to England and play in bigger stadiums, but they will not play in any higher-pressure games then we have this season,” McGinn said.

"I have played in England and it was nothing like going to Ayr United at Somerset Park in February eight points behind and needing to win.

"You are feeling the pressure of a club that has never been in Scottish football's third tier in that one. You are sensing the desperation of the fans for that not to happen.

"For those young players going on in their careers dealing and handling that type of situation will stand them in good stead.

"There has been a lot of games like that this season. We went to Palmerston and won and then all the teams at the bottom did the same.

"The whole season has been full of must win matches. It has almost become so natural that you actually embrace the pressure.

"There are players like Kyle Magennis who played last week. He is only 18 years old and he has played in 15 must win and high pressure games and came through them all.

"The young guys are playing so care-free and it is good to watch.

"When I first came in Stevie Mallan looked like a player who had the weight of the world on his shoulders and was carrying the expectations of the supporters and he was playing under a lot of pressure.

"Then you see him on Saturday banging in a hat-trick and what he has done over the past three months and you think to yourself 'how can this guy have been playing for a team that is rooted to the bottom of the league'? He has been that good.”

If St Mirren survive, McGinn would rank it as the biggest achievement of his career, but there is a familiar obstacle standing in his way.

He has already played against younger brother John back in March, when the Saints battled to a vital 2-0 victory, but he knows that the champions have an added incentive today too.

"It is such a big day to be a Hibs player and to get the Championship trophy and finally knowing you are out of this league,” he said.

"They are playing against a team that is desperate for a point and it will be a tough one for him. I won't be offering any sort of advice.

"John was complimentary of how we played the night we beat Hibs. That night we had to win and as has been the case since January.

"You are almost like a man possessed and you forget that your wee brother is playing.

"I remember there was five minutes to go and I heard the opposition manager shouting at my wee brother, and that was the only time it got uncomfortable. I could just hear John responding to an Irish accent!

"I think John is Hibs best player. Playing directly against him I realise that I am going to have to stop him having an influence on the game.”