ST MIRREN manager Stephen Robinson is aiming to keep the momentum going as the Buddies prepare for a crucial encounter at Kilmarnock.

The Premier Sports Cup holders have gone five matches unbeaten and have a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle to look forward to.

They also have Jonah Ayunga and Mark O’Hara back in full training and Keanu Baccus waiting for the green light to join them.

None of them are expected to feature at Rugby Park while Jake Young is suspended, but the game offers the chance for St Mirren to put nine points between themselves and Killie in the relegation play-off spot.

“We’re five unbeaten now,” Robinson said. “We’ve had a brilliant result against Hearts, we found a way to win against Airdrie, one of the hardest ties in the round.

“We go there believing that we can win, believing that we can get a result.

“We’ve won three out of the last five and progressed in cup competitions. Previously, we couldn’t buy a win before, although we were playing really well.

“We haven’t quite hit the heights of that yet, but we’ve ground results out. We’ve managed to win games. We’ve been defending well when we need to.

“Without being right at the very top of our game, we’ve managed to go on that run, five games unbeaten. We want to continue that. We want to keep that positivity going.

“We’re in a quarter-final of a cup and, you look at the bigger picture, there’s players coming back which will make us stronger. So we go into the game very positive.”

The game sees Robinson renew rivalries with former Dundee manager Neil McCann, who predicted it would be an “interesting technical area.”

Robinson joked: “I don’t fight with anybody any more. I don’t even look near the opposition bench. I did say that to him, don’t you be trying to start rows with me now.

“No, it’s good to see Neil back in again. He’s got a depth of knowledge and I’m sure Kilmarnock will benefit from that.

“But no, there’ll be no row on the bench. I’m solely focused on what we’re trying to do. That’s hard enough.”

Although Robinson is getting some players back, winger Malik Dijksteel looks set for a lay-off with the groin injury he suffered at Airdrie.

“We’re waiting on scan results for him,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t look good, probably even a little bit worse than we thought. We feel he’s got some sort of tear in there.”