CONFERENCE IS EUROPEAN SAFETYNET

Should all go to plan at Hampden on Saturday, St Johnstone’s interest in the inaugural Europa Conference League will be a fleeting one.

If they defeat Hibernian they will instead qualify for the Europa League and would only need to concern themselves with Uefa’s newest tournament in the event that they exit at the play-off stage.

Nevertheless, a gutsy draw against Livingston has ensured the Perth side a European safety net.

Saints would enter at the second qualifying round, which sees

110 teams split into a “Champions Path” involving 20 teams and the “Main Path” of 90. St Johnstone would be involved in the latter.

The first leg will take place on July 22 followed by the return fixture seven days later. The draw takes place on June 16.

St Johnstone have become accustomed to lengthy European trips in recent years, and they could face another.

With so many teams yet to confirm their place in the competition, seedings are yet to be cemented but potential opponents span the continent from Wales to Kazakhstan, including some familiar faces.

Teams already in the pot include their old Europa League foes Rosenborg (Nor), Basel (Sui), Astana (Kaz) and Temuri Ketsbaia’s Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyp).

Based on current league standings in some of Europe’s midtier leagues, Vitoria de Guimaraes (Por), Anderlecht (Bel) and the winner of the play-offs between Feyenoord, Utrecht, FC Groningen or Sparta Rotterdam (Ned) may enter at the second qualifying round.

The Europa Conference League is a tournament designed to afford clubs from “smaller nations” a more realistic opportunity to progress to the group stage of continental competition.

The inaugural Europa Conference League final is on May 25 next year at the 22,500-capacity National Arena in Tirana.