ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright insists he will not make an excuse out of his side's early start to the season if they crash against Europa League rivals FC Alashkert.
The Perth outfit will return to action just five-and-a-half weeks after rounding off last term's campaign when they take on the Armenians in Thursday's opening round of the Europa League qualifiers.
They face a 3,000-mile outward journey ahead of the first leg, which will be played at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. the home of Armenia's national team, in the capital city of Yerevan.
However, Wright believes his side are already back up to speed following three friendly clashes with Linfield, Glenavon and Aberdeen.
"i think it is weak mentally to make (the early start) an excuse," he said. "We played Rosenborg a couple of years ago in the middle of their season and beat them. We beat Luzern, who started at the same time as us last season.
"I think it's weak and it's weak people who use that as an excuse. If we lose, it won't be because of (our early start).
"We are not thinking about losing. We're going there to win."
Chairman Steve Brown has already made his feelings known on the difficulties of planning a trip to the crossroads between Eastern Europe and Western Asia at the height of holiday season and Wright has found it just as tough doing his homework on Alashkert, who finished last season's Armenian Premier League in fourth.
"There's been a lot made of the distance we're travelling and the heat we encounter when we get over there, but we will deal with it," said Wright.
"We've got a lot of footage of them from last season, but they've made seven changes and, unfortunately, we haven't been able to get any footage of them this season. We have, though, seen some clips of the guys they've brought in, so we have a fair idea of the players they have available to them."
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