ST MIRREN defensive starlet Jason Naismith says the spectre of Buddies favourite David van Zanten is keeping him on his toes as he bids to cling on to his starting place.

The 19-year-old, who signed a three-year contract extension yesterday that ties him until the summer of 2017, has broken into the Paisley club's first team recently against Partick Thistle and Ross County.

Blessed with a high voltage power surge that carries him rampaging down the right flank on impressive overlapping runs for the full 90 minutes, Naismith has made it tough for League Cup winning hero Vanzie to reclaim his treasured place on the right of the rearguard.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon admitting after the victory over Ross County last time out that the young full-back had been "the pick of the bunch" from the clutch of home grown tyros that starred against the Highlanders.

But now, as Naisy eyes tomorrow's lunchtime visit of Hibernian, the grounded youngster admitted that, despite his fine form, he is still not confident of holding off Vanzie's challenge for a starting jersey.

"Obviously, I know that Vanzie has been warming the bench in the last couple of games while I have been in and starting and that he is determined to make sure he gets his place back," he said.

"When you know that is the case it really does keep you on your toes because you are aware the minute your form drops off you will be out again.

"Vanzie has so much experience and he has been a great help to me with advice and such-like and it is great for the club, I guess, that we have two guys battling it out over the right-back slot."

Indeed, when you look across at Saints' left flank it is a similar story with 20-year-old Sean Kelly keeping out the vastly experienced Danny Grainger as youth, for the moment, holds sway over experience.

They will be tested against a Hibs side galvanised by the arrival of new manager Terry Butcher and the Buddies back line will also miss suspended skipper Jim Goodwin.

Naismith knows that any relaxation of the high standards that have seen Saints win four of their last five games will be punished.

He said: "Hibs have already beaten us at their place this season and now with Terry Butcher in charge they are going to have been given a huge lift. But the big thing for us is that we are playing with a lot of confidence now.

"Before, it used to be a case of just trying to get something out a game - now we are going out believing we will win."