so, the pretend stuff is over. Next Saturday, what will we see?.

Gillespie; Tait, Gallagher, Dunne, Carroll; Donnelly, Campbell, Polworth; Hylton, Scott, Iliic

would be my XI.

I think Carroll has done enough to earn a start at FB to finally give us 'natural' width again which means Tait on the right and Grimmy on the bench. The centre-backs are clear. Donnelly, long-term, is still a question mark but he's done everything asked of him in the tests since Livingston last season and will surely start now. Campbell is a certainty and Polworth very likely. The front three is much harder...I think Seedorf will be viewed as the impact sub to begin with so Ilic will get the nod over him while Hylton has done enough. Long was signed a starter, presumably, but despite my similar long-term concerns over Scott there's no doubt he's the guy in form right now.

Carson, Grimshaw, Hartley, Sloth, Seedorf, Long on the bench with either McGuire or Cole joining them.