Dundee derby, Wilson and Wimmer in focus

Four rounds of matches remain before the Scottish Premiership splits in two for the final stretch and there is still a lot of jostling for places going on.

Just three points cover the teams from sixth to ninth, with all four involved in a kind of mini-league this weekend.

St Mirren might need to take something at Motherwell to stay in the fight, while Hearts and Ross County are near neck-and-neck and have shared the spoils in three of their past four meetings.

Sunday's Old Firm derby will hog the headlines, but there are plenty of other plotlines to consider in the unfolding drama.

Game of the weekend: Dundee United v Dundee

On Sunday, Dundee's city neighbours meet for the fourth, and most likely last, time this season, with concerns in different halves of the league, but the same burning desire for derby day success.

Dundee's need seems more urgent as they bid to get out of the relegation play-off spot, but United are in the thick of a tight race for Europe.

United, promoted over the summer, are already just one point shy of the tally that took Dundee to a surprise sixth place last season.

And they have had the better of this fixture in recent times.

Unbeaten in their previous five Premiership derbies (W2 D3), United have lost just one of the past 17 at home in the top flight. (W5, D11).

However, the last meeting went the way of the Dark Blues in the Scottish Cup, with Simon Murray's first-minute header at Dens Park enough.

Cup interest is over now and that leaves Dundee seeking a first league win since 5 January.

Dundee have conceded the most goals in the division, with problems in midfield leaving defenders exposed too often.

United just happen to have the Premiership's top scorer. Sam Dalby has 13 goals, which have been worth 12 points, also a league-high total for any player this term.

Jim Goodwin's side will go long in search of the powerful striker. Dundee know what's coming, but can they deal with the threat at Tannadice?

Player to watch: James Wilson (Heart of Midlothian)

James Wilson was a surprise call-up to the Scotland squad this week along with fellow 18-year-old Lennon Miller, the Motherwell midfielder.

Two goals against Saturday's opponents, Ross County, in December have helped the young striker make a rapid rise to prominence.

Indeed, it could have been a hat-trick in Dingwall as Hearts were awarded a penalty and Wilson waited in vain with ball tucked under his arm before VAR overturned the decision that the Scottish FA later admitted had been correct after all.

The teenager's breakthrough season has come while still preparing to sit his Highers at school, but he has now accumulated 24 first-team appearances, scoring six goals and contributing two assists.

His shot conversion - five goals from 13 efforts - is the best in the Premiership and Hearts will need that accuracy given County have built their own recent improvement - one point and one place below their hosts - on defensive stubbornness.

County defenders Akil Wright and Connor Randall are the top two players for most interceptions made in the league.

That dogged determination led to two stoppage-time goals in a 2-2 draw that made that penalty denied to Wilson even more painful.

County will need that again considering Hearts have scored three goals in three of their latest four home games and won five of their latest seven at Tynecastle.

However, although County have not won in eight visits to Gorgie since their only win there in March 2017, September's visit was their fifth draw.

Manager in the spotlight: Michael Wimmer (Motherwell)

Having won just once in 11 Premiership outings, Motherwell were drifting the wrong way in the table, but suddenly the Fir Park side are back in the top six and looking to win three successive league games for the first time since September 2023.

Michael Wimmer lost his opening game at Tannadice after just three training sessions with the squad he inherited from Stuart Kettlewell.

Dundee were beaten at Fir Park and then the Steelmen stunned Rangers, with Barry Ferguson bemoaning the fact the visitors had "run over the top" of his side in a high-energy first-half showing at Ibrox.

Since then, Miller has been called up by Scotland and fellow teenager Kai Andrews, on loan from Coventry City, is in the Wales squad.

Wimmer had his players pressing like demons against Rangers and St Mirren, just three points behind their hosts, can expect more of the same intensity on Saturday.

However, there was more to their approach at Ibrox, with Callum Slattery, Tom Sparrow and Miller impressive in possession and defenders making a whopping 52 clearances.

Motherwell have won both of their previous encounters with the men from Paisley this season, last doing three in a row in April 2015. Can Wimmer keep the good times rolling?