St Mirren will start their pre-season preparations under new manager Craig McLeish with a trip to face Arbroath. The pre-season friendly on Saturday 27 June (14:00 BST) will be the 36-year-old's first game as the permanent manager. McLeish won three of his nine league matches as interim boss but was unable to prevent the Buddies finishing second bottom as Kilmarnock hit form after the split. In the Premiership play-off final, the Paisley side secured survival with a 2-1 win against Partick Thistle. The match against Arbroath will be a crucial test for McLeish and his team as they look to build momentum ahead of the new season. St Mirren's fans will be eager to see how their new manager performs in his first game in charge. The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams looking to make a strong impression. The result will be a crucial indicator of St Mirren's chances in the new season.