Many of the regulars at Fir Park have yet to endure the sinking feeling that haunts the stands when the team struggles to win vital points as the games run out. That exquisite pain is familiar only to those of more mature years. On the other hand those who remember the feeling when van der Gaag saved our bacon in 1997 know the huge relief that can come if the drop is avoided.
These final five fixtures of the regular season will see pressure increase with every kick-off. Any defeat will draw us closer to the dreaded play-off double header and a final throw of the dice.
We start the adventure at New Douglas Park on Friday. That venue has been the scene of much grief in recent months. The New Year's day defeat would normally have been classified as the low point of a poor season but even that disaster was beaten when we lost to Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup. To add to the mix we have to contend with the artificial surface. Maybe our win at Rugby Park will have ended the hoodoo associated with plastic pitches.
If we come through the game against Hamilton unscathed the two home games against Ross County and Kilmarnock offer a chance to do damage to our rivals. The pattern of matches in the post-split lottery has been kind as has the balance of home and away fixtures. If we end this trio with nine points our position will be much improved.
That will leave a trip to Paisley then(hopefully) an end to the campaign when Partick Thistle come to Fir Park. Memories of that 1997 last day decider with Dunfermline will return though it is unlikely that another crowd approaching 10,000 will attend.
Tickets for Friday's game are on sale at Fir Park and it is possible that we could outnumber the home support. Our fans will have an important job in the next few weeks and if the team play as we know they can then we may claw our way up the table - one place would be enough.