Gary Teale is praying his former Buddies do not come back to haunt St Mirren when they face Dundee on Saturday.

The Dee have four ex-Saints on their books - goalkeeper Grant Adam, defender Paul McGinn and midfield duo Paul McGowan and Gary Harkins.

McGowan, though, was the only one to make a success of himself in Paisley after helping the club win the League Cup last year.

But caretaker boss Teale believes the others will be desperate to prove themselves against their old side when they travel to Dens Park this weekend.

He said: "There are a few familiar faces in that Dundee team and a few of them will want to come back at us and do well.

"That's always the case when you play an old side, regardless of whether you leave on good terms or bad ones.

"We wish all these guys like Gowser, Gary, Grant and Paul McGinn well - but just not this weekend."

St Mirren are desperate for points. They have gone almost 12 weeks without a win and are now rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, a point behind relegation rivals Ross County.

Motherwell put daylight between themselves and the bottom two with a 1-0 win in Paisley last week but Saints can take satisfaction from an improved showing.

Teale, however, is after more.

He said: "Last Saturday was a step in the right direction but right now it is results we need, not performances. I would gladly take a bang average performance if we could get three points on Saturday."