Luke McCowan encapsulates Dundee's battling qualifies.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who has captained the side in Joe Shaughnessy's absence, has won possession for his side 310 times this season - at least 66 more times than any other player in the competition.

In fact, McCowan won possession 15 times against Rangers last month, which is the joint-most by any player in a single Premiership match this season.

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Premiership player of the year candidate Lawrence Shankland has scored Hearts' second goal in both their recent 2-0 wins over Celtic.

While the league's top scorer has only added one to his season's tally in his last eight outings, the Edinburgh side will again look to the 28-year-old Scotland striker to avoid a third consecutive goalscoring blank.

Celtic's man of the moment is James Forrest, the 32-year-old winger marking his return to the side with three goals in two games to rekindle hope of a Scotland recall.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: "All these games after the split are massive.

"We didn't get off to a very good start last week, so it's important that we improve on that and get points today.

"If I can get the players coming off the pitch at the end of every match exhausted, having run themselves into the ground, I'll take what I can get.

"We all know the situation. This is a hard venue to come to and get points, but we've had a good week of training and I'm feeling confident."

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "Jack Vale is a big miss to us.

"He's been very good since he came in in January, but it gives Sam Nicholson an opportunity and we're hoping he'll give us a wee spike at the top end of the pitch.

"When you get to this stage of the season, there's so many stories. Our cause is the greater 'cause it's ours. The possible outcomes for Livingston are not my concern. We need to be at our absolute best to beat them."

Having lost to Livingston last week, County could gain revenge by officially relegating the West Lothian side today depending on the result at Fir Park.

Don Cowie's second-bottom side, one point behind St Johnstone, are five unbeaten at home after their shock 3-2 defeat of Rangers, who inflicted Hibs' only defeat in their latest nine on the road.

County have yet to beat Nick Montgomery's side in three meetings this season and March's 2-2 draw in Dingwall means the Edinburgh side are unbeaten in their latest three visits.

Another week and another game when Livingston, nine points behind with four games left, could be officially relegated.

David Martindale's side ended an eight-game run without a win by beating second-bottom Ross County last time out to revive their outside chances of a great escape.

But they will be officially down if they lose away to Motherwell while County avoid defeat by Hibs. Or if they draw, County win and St Johnstone avoid defeat. Got all that?

Well are without a home win in four games, but Livingston have lost five in a row at Fir Park and have not won in 15 visits since their last win there - by 5-1 in October 2002.

Dundee and St Mirren are in a head-to-head battle for fifth place and qualification for European football and both go into this game on the back of 2-1 defeats by either side of the Old Firm.

Despite creditable performances, Tony Docherty's hosts are now without a win in three at home and without a win in four overall.

Stephen Robinson's Buddies are two points ahead but are also without a win in five, have lost three in a row and are five without a win away.

All three meetings between the sides this season have ended in home wins, with St Mirren being swept aside 4-0 at Dens Park in November.

Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery tells BBC Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall is missing after taking a knock in training.

"With the bus drive up, we felt it was not worth the risk, so he stays back to get treatment," he says.

"Will Fish didn’t recover from an innocuous back injury last week and Dylan Vente comes in for Adam Le Fondre. We’ve got a strong starting team and players who can make an impact off the bench.

"It was disappointing not to finish in the top six, but the performance against St Johnstone was very good."

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland "relegation has been hanging over our heads for six months".

"From January onwards, we've struggled squad-wise with numbers, player availability, so we've got continuity and a full bench today, which is unheard of," he adds. "That's been a bug-bear all season, but today we can make changes in the game.

"Whatever this result is today, nothing changes. We'll keep fighting, keep trying to win games of football. We'll keep coming in on a Monday. There's still a game next Saturday, that won't change."

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland he is surprised that visiting boss Stephen Robinson, who is celebrating his 100th game in charge, was not alongside him in the manager of the year award shortlist.

"There's real meaning to it, there's an edge," he says of today's game. "It'll be two good teams going all out for that European spot, but nothing will be decided today.

"There's always pressure in football. We've achieved all our objectives this season, but there's one to go and the players are desperate to achieve it. Today will be a big indicator for me."

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Celtic have another chance to increase their lead at the top of the Premiership to six points with second-top Rangers hosting Kilmarnock on Sunday.

But it surely won't be easy against a Hearts side who have beaten the champions twice already this season, are unbeaten in four away games and can end Kilmarnock's slim hopes of catching them in third with another victory.

Brendan Rodgers' hosts are, though, unbeaten in nine games at home since the Edinburgh side won 2-0 at Celtic Park in December - and seven without defeat overall since losing by the same score at Tynecastle in March.

Indeed, they have won the latest four at home by an aggregate of 17-4 and have not lost three games in a row to Hearts since October 1961 - when the visitors also last won consecutive league games at Celtic Park.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland about his 100th game in charge of St Mirren: "It doesn't happen often nowadays does it, so we must have done something right. It's gone very quickly, so I must be enjoying myself.

"Hard work. When we came in, we said numerous times, we will run it like it we're going to be here for 20 years. We all know in football, you're not - but we've put good structures in place.

"We've hit the ground running, brought good players in, and believed we could achieve top six. To do it again is a fantastic achievement."

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The Teletubbies, Spider-Man and Triple H are among those celebrating Stenhousemuir's League 2 title party at Stranraer today.

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Five unbeaten Premiership games have lifted Aberdeen up to eighth place and within a win today of securing safety from relegation, their only defeat during that period coming against Celtic after a Scottish Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out.

They are also four unbeaten at home under Peter Leven, although the interim boss misses out today as he is in hospital.

While Aberdeen's main incentive is to impress new boss Jimmy Thelin, who arrives from Elfsborg this summer, St Johnstone have a relegation play-off to avoid.

A point above Ross County, Craig Levein's side have lost two in a row, both at home, and may be happier to be heading to Pittodrie considering they have won three of their latest six on the road.

Indeed, they won 2-0 on their last visit to Pittodrie in February, following two draws between the sides earlier in the season, and have only lost twice in nine games there, winning four.

Talking about interim head coach Peter Leven's rush to hospital, Aberdeen coach Scott Anderson tells BBC Scotland: "Peter is on the mend, everything went well. I spoke to him this morning and we're hopeful, over the course of the next couple of days, he'll be back with us.

"He's set up to be able to view the game and communicate with the bench.

"We are coming off the back of a good run of form and we're just looking to continue that.

"We know today will be a difficult game. St Johnstone are fighting for their lives, but we need to just make sure we maintain that level of performance and hopefully we can go and win the game."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "We are at the point in the season where every game is exciting, we know what we have to do.

"The players are feeling good. Three of our last four games are at home. We're in a really good place, now we have to perform.

"There's no doubt, we look to perform well today, get the result, then that'll always put pressure on a rival."

On the return of Japan forward Daizen Maeda, he says: "It's a huge boost. We were a wee bit concerned when he first had his injury. He hasn't missed a lot of time, it looks like he's never been away."

Either Stranraer, the third oldest club in Scotland, or Clyde, who have been in the Scottish Football League since 1891, will be consigned to a play-off with Lowland League champions East Kilbride to retain their place in the SPFL.

To avoid that showdown, Stranraer need to end an eight-game run without a win as they host champions Stenhousemuir.

Victory would be enough if Clyde lose away to Elgin City, who are without a win in six outings, but if Elgin secure a fifth consecutive draw, it would require Stranraer to win by three clear goals or score seven.

The bad news for Ian McCall's visitors is that the home team have won all three meetings 2-1 this season.

On the other hand, Stenny, who have had eight consecutive draws, have not conceded a goal to Stranraer in three wins this season by an 9-0 aggregate.

Bonnyrigg Rose could also yet finish bottom if they lose at home to Forfar Athletic and the two teams below them win, but there would also need to be an unlikely 12-goal swing in Stranraer's favour.

Meanwhile, Peterhead and visitors Dumbarton are vying to finish runners-up and third-top Spartans will hope to overtake whoever loses into third, with all three having already qualified for the League 1 play-off.

• Bonnyrigg Rose v Forfar Athletic
• East Fife v The Spartans
• Elgin City v Clyde
• Peterhead v Dumbarton
• Stranraer v Stenhousemuir

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has revealed on Sportsound that the league is close to a new sponsorship deal.

Listen now by clicking the wee button at the top of the page.

Having already clinched the title and promotion, Falkirk are looking to complete an unbeaten third-tier season in their derby at home to third-top Alloa Athletic.

John McGlynn's side will be strong favourites to do so considering they have won all three previous meetings this season by an aggregate of 12-1.

Meanwhile, Stirling Albion host Annan Athletic needing a win to avoid a relegation play-off and consign the visitors to that fate.

• Cove Rangers v Edinburgh City
• Falkirk v Alloa Athletic
• Hamilton Academical v Kelty Hearts
• Montrose v Queen of the South
• Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic