Everything is in place for tonight's Renfrewshire derby to be an absolute humdinger.

Friday night under the lights at Cappielow, the game broadcast live across the nation, and the first meeting on league duty between these two bitter rivals for over fifteen long years.

As excitement among the supporters reaches fever pitch, Morton boss Jim Duffy knows that the victors may be the side who can best keep their heads when everyone around them is losing theirs.

"The players won't need geed up for the game," he said.

"If anything I'll be trying to make sure they stay calm and don't get caught up in the hype surrounding the fixture.

"I've been involved in more than a few derby matches over the years, and you've got to try and balance it between not getting too carried away with the atmosphere, because then you can lose focus and you won't be thinking clearly, and feeding off it as well.

"It's important not to get caught up in all the energy around the game, and maintain a bit of composure in your play.

"Normally it's the team that can keep their composure better that come out on top, and I'll be stressing that to the players."

Neither side has registered a victory in their opening two matches of the Championship season, but with a draw against last season's Scottish Cup finalists Falkirk on the opening day and a narrow defeat away to Hibernian at the weekend, there is little doubt that Morton will be happier with their form than their Paisley counterparts going into the clash.

He said: "Our two performances so far have been good against Hibs and Falkirk, two sides that you would expect to be challenging up at the top of the table.

"We've acquitted ourselves well in both games and are a little disappointed only to have one point to show for our performances.

"We want to get winning as quickly as possible, and there wouldn't be a better time than the derby.

"St Mirren are in a similar boat, they've lost their first two games so they'll be desperate to put things right on Friday."

Meanwhile, Morton's on-loan Rangers defender Luca Gasparotto says that he can't wait to sample the derby atmosphere.

"Coming in, I didn't really know much about the Renfrewshire derby, but I've talked to a few guys in the changing room and they've told me about it," he said.

"They've told me it's a big occasion, a big game, so I'm really looking forward to actually playing in it."