CRAIG LEVEIN wants to gatecrash the party when Dundee United arrive at Love Street tomorrow.

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson celebrates five years in charge at the Paisley club, but Levein is in no mood to hand out points for presents.

The Tannadice gaffer is desperate to improve on an away record that has yielded just six points from 21, but knows it won't be easy despite Saints' second-bottom position in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Levein said: "St Mirren have improved a lot, and I was really impressed with them at Tannadice last month even though we won 2-0."

He is likely to make changes after last week's last-gasp 1-1 home draw with bottom club Hamilton and could be tempted to revert back to the 4-5-1 formation which served his side so well on their travels last term.

He said: "Maybe I've been a bit cavalier and perhaps a new approach is needed."

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has challenged his players to pull themselves back into the race for third.

The Dons have five games remaining this year, and Calderwood sees no reason why they cannot win them all - starting against Mother-well tomorrow.

He said: "Hearts and Dundee United have both gone on winning runs already this season.

"We haven't done that yet but we are more than capable of doing so.

"It would be fabulous if we could put ourselves in a position to be challenging for that third position come the new year."

Motherwell will be looking to bounce back from their 4-1 home mauling by Hibs last time out.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid believes Richard Offiong can make all the difference to his side's hopes of survival.

The striker - who has been offered a new two-year deal - has netted two goals in the last two games, against Celtic and Dundee United, although the bottom club earned just a single point from those outings.

Reid said: "Just before Richard scored his two goals, he had shown wee signs that he was adjusting to the SPL.

"If he can chip in with a dozen goals for us that will go a long, long way to us staying in the league."

But Reid has been rocked by the news that Mark Corcoran will need an operation to salavage the rest of his season.

The New Douglas Park striker has finally accepted the inevitable over the hip injury that has blighted his season.

And he was given the news he needs to go under the knife following a meeting with a specialist in Coventry.

Corcoran said: "The specialist said I definitely needed an op but we're trying to get a date fixed up, although it's proving difficult. It's driving me bonkers.

"I know the quicker I get it done, the quicker I can get into my rehab and know when I'm going to be back playing."