ST MIRREN boss Tommy Craig is hopeful his misfiring men turn into Saints' sharpshooters when they take aim against Kilmarnock tomorrow.

The Buddies have yet to register a goal on SPFL Premiership duty this season with their only successful efforts coming in a 2-1 win over Dunfermline in the League Cup last month.

Saints went in to the international break on the back of a 3-0 home defeat in Paisley knowing they would have to wait a fortnight before the next chance to kickstart their season was to present itself.

And while Craig admits personally he would have preferred a game last weekend in order to get his team's season up and running, the St Mirren gaffer revealed the downtime has allowed his players to hone their finishing skills.

He said: "I would have preferred a game, but it's come now. On the other hand, I suppose, it gave us the time to regroup again.

"We are looking for that elusive win and I would have liked a game because it gives you that opportunity.

"But we haven't had one and that's meant we have worked on a variety of things during the break.

"The obvious thing is finishing. We've had a week of getting balls into the box and finishing because it has been the one major thing that's let us down.

"Anyone who has watched us over the four games will realise we've done well in certain aspects, but been particularly poor in front of goal. That's basically what we've been working on.

"Usually we are pretty good at getting to where we want to get to on the pitch, we've actually done that very well.

"It's been the final bit, saying 'Thanks very much' and putting the ball in the net. It sounds ultra simple but it is."

Craig recognises that it won't be easy to get St Mirren's season up and running against a new-look Kilmarnock.

The Ayrshire outfit have been enjoying a more expansive style of football this term, the highlight coming when they comfortably beat Motherwell 2-0 last month.

But while the Saints boss is wary of the threat from Allan Johnston's side, he insists his team will still take the game to their hosts tomorrow.

CRAIG said: "We go to Killie on Saturday and like all games in this league no matter where you play, all these games take on a similar aspect.

"Very few teams go away now and don't try and win a game and sit in. We'll be the same, we'll go to Rugby Park to try and get our best foot forward early doors and get on the road.

"They have changed personnel and have picked up some good results. We can easily identify with how they've done because that's the kind of run we want to get on.

"We would like to get ourselves up and running against Kilmarnock and go on some kind of run. We've got the players to do it."

Craig will be without skipper Steven Thompson. James Marwood is back in contention to start after missing the previous game against United.