Steve Lomas says McDiarmid Park is a far happier place now that St Johnstone are on form.
The Perth men struggled at the start of the season and were bottom of the league when they pulled off a shock home win over champions Celtic on September 15.
Saints' subsequent resurgence has taken them behind third-placed Aberdeen on goal difference and a home SPL win over Kilmarnock would be their fifth successive top-flight victory - a feat last achieved in season 1970-71.
Lomas considered the difference winning has made to the St Johnstone camp and said: "Any manager that tells you that it doesn't make a difference is a liar. It is brighter if you are winning.
"Everything you do during the week, the training, planning, video analysis, all comes down to that 90 minutes when it is 11 versus 11 and it
is about who comes out on top.
"It is down to the lads. They have showed strength of character and it turned it around.
"They knew that, apart from the Aberdeen game, they were playing well.
"We were one down to Celtic and came back to win. Up at Ross County we were playing 60 minutes with 10 men and got pegged back to 1-1 but then went on to win it.
"That tells you a bit about the lads and they showed character last season as well.
"They are a great bunch, even if they don't play well they give it everything they have got and I see how hard they work in training every day.
"But record or no record, we just want the three points.
"It will be tough. Kilmarnock have some decent players and are capable of beating anyone as they proved that in the cup final last season against Celtic.
"We will have to be on our game if we want to get the three points."
Lomas is aware of the threat Killie striker Cillian Sheridan will pose.
The Irishman was on loan at McDiarmid Park last season and impressed the former Manchester City and West Ham midfielder as he helped Saints into a top-six spot.
Lomas said: "I would love to have had him back. I would take him back tomorrow.
"Cillian did a lot of the donkey work for Francisco Sandaza last season, a lot of work that went unseen by many people but not unseen by us and the lads.
"I said to him often that he can be as good as he wants to be.
"He is six foot two, good in the air, has decent pace and is left-footed.
"All credit must go to Kenny Shiels and his board for getting him."
Update:
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