"The players are delighted with that, you would always rather play at your own stadium, so we have that to look forward to," said Goodwin, who has three unnamed players missing after two positive Covid-19 cases.

"Obviously it's not quite the same without fans there to cheer you on, which is a huge disappointment to everybody.

"But I have to credit the players, and every team, all the players have done great with that situation because they have done well to motivate themselves and to make sure that the games are played at a level of intensity that matters. They haven't just been going through the motions.

"We are delighted to be back on our own patch in what is going to be an extremely difficult game."

Saints have taken five points from Betfred Cup games against Partick Thistle and Queen of the South since a much-improved performance in their most recent league game, which ended in a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen.

Goodwin said: "We have to try and approach the game the same way we did the Aberdeen game, obviously with a different outcome.

"If we can take seven points or nine points from the next three games that could really catapult us up the table."