Jack Baird admits he's enjoying being back in the Ladbrokes Premiership despite a challenging start to the season.
The St Mirren Youth Academy graduate made his Saints debut in the Premiership back 2014/15.
But it was the following seasons in the Championship where he established himself as a regular at The Buddies.
While it's been a difficult beginning to life back in the Premiership, Bairdy says he has relished testing himself at the highest level in Scotland and feels Saints can take positives from performances over the last few weeks.
I'm enjoying it," he told stmirren.com.
"I was lucky enough to have played a few games in the Premiership a few years ago. Having played three seasons in the Championship and getting to test myself at another level now I'm really enjoying it. I'm hoping I will get better and keep improving.
"Obviously we've had a bit of a rough start, but the home games have been decent with the manager coming in even though we've not had the results that we wanted.
"The draw against Celtic was a good result and the Hibs game we probably should have taken a point. At the weekend against Kilmarnock we were dominant in the first half, but they get two goals in the second half - one of which was dubious.
"There are positives to take though and we are building to something. Those three teams are all proper top six teams and Celtic have obviously won the league every year for the last couple of years. We more than matched Kilmarnock and Hibs at points in the game so there are positives."
Oran Kearney took over as St Mirren manager last month and Baird says it's been good working with the gaffer.
Kearney's arrival saw the Northern Irishman bring in former English Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand, someone Baird is revelling in learning from.
I've really enjoyed it since the new manager came in even though results haven't gone our way.
"His training is good and I like working with him and some of the players he's brought in.
"I've been really lucky since I've been at this club to play alongside experienced guys like Andy Webster, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis and now Anton Ferdinand.
"You can't beat that because you are learning from guys who have played in the English Premier League and that has been massive for me.
"I'm very grateful I've had the chance to work with people like that."
Saints travel to McDiarmid Park on Saturday to face Tommy Wright's St Johnstone.
The Perth side defeated Motherwell last weekend and sit in eighth place with 11 points.
St Johnstone are an established Premiership team," Baird said.
"They've done well the last few years and they are a strong team.
"It's a hard place to go and we can't be complacent about anything.
"We need three points and we are going to work hard to get them."