St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a very inconsistent season, some good and poor runs. Both those runs are dictated by small margins.

"We've dictated way too many set plays and too many individual errors. When you keep your clean sheets, it gives you a chance and we haven't done that enough.

"But, when you take into consideration everything that's happened to the football club, we are a point off the top six with no divine right to be there. It's testament to the players' character."

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley tells BBC Scotland: "[Lawrence] Shankland has been out for a few weeks - he came on last week. We are hoping that little break has done him good and that he is fresh and good to go.

"Calum [Nieuwenhof] has been out for a long time. It is nice for him to be included in the squad. He is ready for this.

"There can be no complacency on our behalf. We are not where we want to be, or should be. But we are in good form, but so are Dundee. We know we are in for a really tough game."

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In previous transfer windows, there's been plenty of speculation around Hearts and Scotland striker, but not so much this January.

The 29-year-old has scored just three times so far this season but returns to the starting line-up against Dundee.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

Dundee are eighth in the Premiership, while Hearts are ninth – but sometimes league tables can be deceptive.

In terms of league position, there will be those who perhaps think this meeting between the sides is one of two struggling outfits. However, on closer inspection, it actually involves two of the top division’s form teams.

Both have impressed of late and, without wanting to tempt fate, that perhaps suggests we could be in for a cracker in the City of Discovery.

The home side has prevailed in the two previous meetings between the teams already this season – but it would be a brave, or should I say a foolish, person who would try and confidently predict how things will play out.

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East Fife have a five-point lead at the top as Dick Campbell's side visit Elgin City, who are 11 points behind in third but have two games in hand, in the fourth tier's game of the day.

Second-top Peterhead host a Forfar Athletic side who are six adrift at the bottom.

Fourth-placed Edinburgh City host Stirling Albion, who are four behind in fifth but have a game in hand.

• Bonnyrigg Rose v Clyde
• Edinburgh City v Stirling Albion
• Elgin City v East Fife
• Peterhead v Forfar Athletic
• Stranraer v Spartans

Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "Ethan [Ingram] and Finlay Robertson have been fantastic for us, but we've freshened it up a wee bit. In comes Imari [Samuels] and Josh Mulligan, who had been doing fantastically well but had an illness.

"It is the first time I've been able to fill a bench without putting another goalkeeper on it. It brings a real strength to the squad at an important point of the season.

"They [Hearts] are in form at the moment. I was not happy with our last performance against Hearts at Tynecastle. Hopefully there is a bit of redemption."

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "Football is simple. We need to perform better than we did last week because today's opponent is tough, especially at home.

"We have known all the time that we are capable, but we have not been good enough in some moments. That's very honest. We all know that.

"We have been honest and brutal with ourselves. Confidence is we know what we need to do."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been talking aboutSlobodan Rubezic's start on the bench after being asked to be taken off in the first half of last week's loss to St Mirren.

"He's back in the squad," he tells BBC Scotland. "He didn't train the first training after the game or just from recovery and had some small issues in the game. Now he's back on track again and he's ready to play.”

On his side, he adds: “We haven’t been good enough to take the points and we have to try again and improve ourselves and get a better performance so we can get the results.

"That's the only way I know and the only way to get better is in training and get the players back so we can have some good competition inside the squad before the games and create that spirit again."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Easter Road

If this afternoon's match here at Easter Road comes anywhere close to being as exciting as the last visit of Aberdeen in November, we are in for a real treat.

That was a six-goal thriller with three in stoppage time ensuring fans were left asking for more.

It really is staggering the slump in form from Aberdeen as they seek their first league win of 2025.

Indeed, it was 9 November when they last picked up all three points. During that period, Hibs have found a way to win with a brave change of formation by head coach David Gray being the key to their success.

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Five teams have the chance to top the third tier by the end of the day.

Improving fourth-top Cove Rangers - one defeat in seven - can overtake visiting leaders Arbroath on goal difference with a victory.

Stenhousemuir, who visit Montrose, and Queen of the South, who are away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, start two points behind the Gable Endies.

Meanwhile, Kelty Hearts are three off the top as they entertain Annan Athletic.

• Cove Rangers v Arbroath
• Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Queen of the South
• Kelty Hearts v Annan Athletic
• Montrose v Stenhousemuir

After last night's second-tier win by Livingston away to leaders Falkirk, Ayr United will leapfrog over both into first place if they win away to Hamilton Academical to extend their run of away wins to four and remain unbeaten in eight.

Meanwhile, there is a Fife derby as second-bottom Dunfermline Athletic host Raith Rovers.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Partick Thistle host Greenock Morton, while bottom side Airdrieonians entertain Queen's Park.

• Airdrieonians v Queen's Park
• Dunfermline Athletic v Raith Rovers
• Hamilton Academical v Ayr United
• Partick Thistle v Greenock Morton

David Gray has made no changes to Hibs starting XI or the bench from the side that lined up against Ross County in Dingwall last weekend.

The club are waiting for paperwork before being able to field new signing Alasana Manneh.

Aberdeen's Jimmy Thelin makes two changes to the side that lost 3-0 to St Mirren.

On-loan Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Alfie Dorrington and midfielder Ante Palaversa are both in the starting line-up, with Sivert Heltne Nilsen dropping to the bench along with Slobodan Rubezic, who asked to be substituted off last weekend.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty hands a league debut to full-back Imari Samuels following his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Josh Mulligan is Dundee's second change from their Scottish Cup victory over city rivals Dundee United, with Ethan Ingram and Finlay Robertson dropping to the bench. On-loan Monterrey midfielder Victor Lopez could debut as a substitute.

Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland makes his first start since Boxing Day, starting up front in place of James Wilson. Lewis Neilson, the centre-half recalled from St Johnstone, and midfielder Musa Drammeh replace the injured Craig Halkett and Jorge Grant.

There are places on the Hearts bench for centre-back Michael Steinwender, signed from Varnamo, and long-time injury absentee Calum Nieuwenhof, but another new signing, former Brann midfielder Sander Kartum, does not make the squad.

Hibs' one January signing, Alasana Manneh, is not involved today but will get a good view of how his new team-mates are doing.

Paperwork regarding the 26-year-old midfielder's move from Odense has not been completed in time for him to play against Aberdeen.

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There's only one change for St Mirren from the fine 3-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend, with teenager Callum Penman dropping to the bench after being replaced early in that game.

Elvis Bwomono is back in the side at right wing-back.

Elliot Watt, the midfielder signed on loan from Burton Albion, makes his St Johnstone debut as he's named in the starting XI in place of Max Kucheriavyi.

The other change is in goal, where Ross Sinclair makes a surprise start with new signing Andy Fisher dropping out.

Neither former Halmstad midfielder Jonathan Svedberg or Latvia defender Daniels Balodis, previously of RFS, are involved after their midweek arrivals.

It's blue skies over Easter Road for one of two big sporting events in the capital today, with Hibernian v Aberdeen taking place nearby Scotland's opening Six Nations match with Italy.

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Despite their current dismal run, Aberdeen have the chance to move up to third again before Dundee United visit second-bottom Kilmarnock in the later kick-off.

However, hosts Hibernian are one of the top flights' form teams.

Dundee and Hearts are level on points in eighth and ninth as they meet at Dens Park, while it is a battle of the Saints in Paisley as the Perth visitors look to avoid being further marooned at the bottom.

• Dundee v Heart of Midlothian
• Hibernian v Aberdeen
• Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd (17:45)
• St Mirren v St Johnstone

Hibernian: Smith, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, C Cadden, N Cadden, Triantis, Levitt, Campbell, Boyle, Gayle.

Substitutes: Bursik, Miller, Kwon, Bowie, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Hoilett, Molotnikov, Kuharevich.

Aberdeen: Doohan, Devlin, Tobers, Dorrington, Jensen, Shinnie, Palaversa, Clarkson, Okkels, Keskinen, Gueye.

Substitutes: Ritchie, MacKenzie, Nisbet, Duk, Rubezic, Morris, Helte Nilsen, Boyd, Ambrose.

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, Phillips, Boyd-Munce, O'Hara, Tanser, Mandron, Olusanya.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Kenny, John, Penman, Smyth, Kiltie, Scott, Mooney, Oseni.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Curtis, Wright, Mikulic, Douglas, Holt, Sprangler, Watt, Griffith, Carey, Kirk.

Substitutes: Rae, Hepburn, Clark, Sidibeh, Kucheriavyi, Steven, Smith, McPake, Franczak.

Dundee: Carson, Astley, C Robertson, Donnelly, Samuels, Mulligan, Sylla, Garza, Cameron, Murray, Adewumi.

Substitutes: McCracken, Ingram, McGhee, Tiffoney, F Robertson, Larkeche, Palmer-Houlden, Lopez, Portales.

Heart of Midlothian: Gordon, Forrester, Neilson, McCart, Penrice, Drammeh, Devlin, Baningime, Spittal, Shankland, Kabangu.

Substitutes: Clark, Nieuwenhof, Steinwender, Forrest, Boateng, Dhanda, Wilson, Vargas, Taylor.