ST MIRREN manager Gus MacPherson is working against the clock to add a final sheen of quality to his squad before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.

The Paisley club have made already signed Lee Mair, Michael Higdon, Paul Gallacher and Chris Innes during the summer, but MacPherson is still on the lookout.

However, he has insisted that he will only bring in players that he believes are better than what he currently has.

"There is no point in bringing in players just for the sake of it. They have to be able to bring something that I don't already have and that is the difficulty.

"As we go into the final week of the transfer window it always starts to get a bit frantic, but we won't be panicked into doing anything.

"It is a long time now until the window re-opens and you are always a bit fearful of being left needing something that you can't get, but there is no point in bringing in guys for the sake of it.

"I would, ideally, like to add one or two before next week but we will see what we can do and whether or not it's viable."

Saints travel to take on Ayr United at Somerset Park tonight in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

First Division Dunfermline put the Buddies out of the competition last season and MacPherson has warned that his side cannot afford to underestimate the Honest Men.

St Mirren had a comfortable win over them in a pre-season game, but with a lot more at stake the boss believes it will be a tougher proposition tonight.

"We know from past experience how hard it can be against a First Division side," he said. "I would think that if we are to get anything from the game that we will have to be at our best because Ayr will be well up for this one.

"It is on their home turf and they won't make it easy for us. If we are to win and go into the next round then we will have to earn that right."

St Mirren have taken just one point from their opening two SPL games, but MacPherson is satisfied with the performances from his side, despite the paucity of points.

"We took a point from Dundee United on Saturday and that is something that we were unable to do all last season," he said.

"I actually think that this time last season we would have lost that game so the point was actually pleasing because I think United are a quality side.

"The performances in the opening two games haven't been all that bad. There is room for improvement, of course there is, but I don't think it has been too bad.

"There are a lot of positives and we are showing the right kind of attitude in games.

"We know that it is all about points but going to Easter Road and then playing Dundee United are two hard games for us to start off with."

St Mirren have no new injury problems ahead of tonight's match. Mo Camara doesn't require knee surgery but is a doubt, while Steven Thomson is available again following a ban.