St Johnstone v Hearts: Can Hearts start the season with a victory?

St Johnstone striker Stevie May hopes he is given a run out against Hearts on Sunday so he can reclaim his starting spot for the next stage of his side's Europa League adventure.

The 20-year-old frontman was the hero for Tommy Wright's men when he struck the crucial equaliser against Norwegian's Rosenborg in the second-leg of their second qualifying round clash.

His goal secured a score draw in Perth and confirmed a 2-1 aggregate win that sent the former Champions League quarter-finalists spinning out of the competition.

Now the forward hopes to down Hearts at McDiarmid in Saints' opening Scottish Premiership fixture of the new term and ensure he is in the Wright's plans for the return with Minsk.

May told Press Association Sport: "I was gutted not to be playing on Thursday night. But that's obvious. Ask any player who misses big games and they will tell you they are disappointed.

"But it turned out to be the right decision so there's no arguing with it. We all trust the gaffer. I'll just get my head down and hope to play in the next couple of games.

"Thursday will be a massive game for the club and the town and I want to play my part. Sunday is good opportunity for me to stake my claim."

May also believes the match against Gary Locke's administration-hit Jambos side will be no walkover.

He said: "Hearts have still got a lot of good players and they will bring a big travelling support with them. That will make it a tougher game than normal but we are quietly confident we can get the result."

Hearts striker Callum Paterson is refusing to be fazed by their 15-point deduction ahead of the Scottish Premiership opener at St Johnstone.

Administration-hit Hearts go into the season with just two outfield players aged over 21 and the inability to bring in any more until at least February following a fresh Scottish Football Association registration embargo.

But Paterson insists Hearts can overcome the odds and survive in the top flight.

"Of course, no doubt about it," the 18-year-old said. "We just have to keep on the way we are going.

"We have not lost many games in pre-season and we had a good performance against Liverpool.

"If we carry on that performance into the league we should have no problems at all."

Paterson added: "To be honest we are just trying to get results, we are not focusing on how far we're behind we are.

"We are focusing on ourselves and if we get the results then everything will be fine and we'll be up there."

Provisional St Johnstone squad: Mannus, MacKay, Scobbie, Anderson, Cregg, McDonald, Wotherspoon, May, MacLean, Hasselbaink, Banks, Caddis, Miller, Davidson, B Easton, Edwards, Fallon, Millar.

Provisional Hearts squad: MacDonald, Hamill, McHattie, McKay, Wilson, Robinson, Stevenson, Walker, Holt, Tapping, McGowan, Paterson, Carrick, Smith, B King, A King, McGhee, Oliver, Ridgers.