By BERT MITCHELL HAMILTON gaffer Billy Reid has no doubt even at this early stage in the Irn-Bru First Division campaign that his side's trip to St Johnstone is a massive game.

Table-topping Accies hold an 11-point lead over the pre-season joint promotion favourites.

And the Lanarkshire side's confidence levels were further boosted in midweek by their CIS Cup mauling of Kilmarnock.

However, with the Perth Saints determined to haul themselves back into the early-season title race, the Accies manager is deter-mined to keep his side grounded.

Reid said: "Confidence is sky high after the victory over Kilmarnock but that is gone now. We know that with there being an 11-point gap between us and St Johnstone they will be absolutely determined to avoid that stretching to 14.

"So there is no point in describing this as anything other than a massive game for both clubs. There is a world of difference between an eight-point and a 14- point gap and I expect them to throw everything at us."

From that point of view, the pragmatic Accies boss is almost certain to restore his talismanic centre-back Mark McLaughlin to the New Douglas starting line-up as he bids to counter the aerial menace of giant Perth poacher Kenny Deuchar.

Despite decent showings from the likes of David Winter, also certain to return to Hamilton's line-up is skipper Alex Neil as Reid will be determined to have his playmaker dictate from the central areas.

However, the magnitude of Hamilton's defeat of SPL Killie is only underlined by the fact that both McLaughlin and Neil - arguably Accies' two most influential players - were rested.

Reid, though, has no doubt that even if his side were to come out on top against Saints, Owen Coyle's men can never be dismissed as promotion also- rans.

The Accies gaffer said: "In terms of us being 11 points clear of St Johnstone - who I still believe will make a challenge - we are exactly where we want to be. The onus is all on St Johnstone, it is their home game and they are playing catch-up."

Hamilton are at full strength for tomorrow's trip to Perth.

Meanwhile, Morton boss Jim McInally will take his Ton side to Dundee with a number of injury concerns, but buoyed by a battling point against St Johnstone.

Macca said: "The point and the fact we got two goals against St Johnstone was very important for us in that it brought a losing sequence to an end and has given us a real positive performance to build on.

"Obviously we are going to a Dundee side who have just given Celtic a real battle in the CIS Cup and are among the favourites for the First Division title, but that is the type of game you want to be playing in. However, we have several selection worries due to injury.

"Chris Millar has suffered a reaction to his hamstring after returning to training and is out. Michael Gardyne is not as bad as we first thought after his ankle injury against Saints, but is still very doubtful. Dean Keenan is a 60/40 shot and Scott McLaughlin may make the bench. But, as always, we plan to be positive in our approach at Dens Park."

Elsewhere, Clyde travel to Livingston with boss Colin Hendry boosted by the imminent return of long-term crock Craig McKeown.

Hendry said: "Craig is back in full training, which is great news. However, he is going to need games to get to match fitness.

"We got three great points against Dunfermline last time out and must use that as a platform at Livi."