St Johnstone have to guard possession jealously against Celtic or they will be in for a "long 90 minutes" at Parkhead, according to Perth midfielder Murray Davidson.

The rearranged fixture gives the reigning champions the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership over Old Firm rivals Rangers to six points and will be the first of three meetings between Saints and the Hoops in the coming weeks.

Ominously, Celtic have won all 11 home league games this season and indeed, boss Brendan Rodgers has only lost one domestic game at home since taking over as Hoops boss in 2016.

Tommy Wright's men are looking to get back on track following their 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle but midfielder Davidson  knows the magnitude of the task ahead.

He told Press Association Sport: "We have Celtic three times in 11 days so they are extremely difficult games but we have had positive results against them home and away in the past and we need to try to be positive and try to get some results.

"Any time you go to difficult away venues you have to be organised, you have to work hard and when you get the ball you can't keep giving it back to them or it will be a long 90 minutes, with their movement on and off the ball.

"That is where organisation and hard work come into it because if you don't work hard they will just pick you off because they have such good players.

"And when you do get the ball, you have to keep it because you can't defend for 90 minutes.

"It can be difficult at times. The ball goes out and before you know it, it comes back in and you are playing again.

"You might need a bit of luck along the way but we have had positive results there so we are looking to do that again.

"It is tough. Every player will say that. But it is one you have to relish, you have to enjoy it."