Hearts boss Derek McInnes expected to face a defensive Dundee, but the visitors are looking lively themselves.

The Scottish Premiership leaders are struggling to win any meaningful possession near the opposition penalty box.

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A poor attempted pass from Raphael Sallinger in goal is too short for Rocky Bushiri, with Jeremy Bokila nipping in in front of him. The Livingston striker goes down under the challenge but gets no penalty.

No VAR review either, which is a bit surprising...

Hibs are cutting through Livingston like the proverbial hot knife through butter.

This time it's the returning Martin Boyle who gets into the area but his low shot is meat and drink for Livingston's goalkeeper Jerome Prior.

Falkirk think they've taken an early lead as Ethan Williams latches on to a smart through ball from Calvin Miller and rounds the keeper, but it's chopped off immediately on the field.

A brief delay in restarting as VAR has a double check...

We've only played a couple of minutes and Livi keeper Jerome Prior has already seen the ball fly past him into his net, and then nearly give away a free-kick on the edge of his area but he just - and only just - stopped himself from leaving his box with the ball in his hands.

It's all Hibs and home boss David Martindale is not a happy chappy.

Killie's Dom Thompson gets caught on the ball early on, but the hosts can't capitalise on his error at the back.

Moments later, Kyrell Wilson dukes in from the right-hand side, but his shot at goal is well blocked by Thompson.

Lively start for the hosts.

First sight at goal goes to the home side.

Harry Milne jinks inside off the wing, but the Hearts full-back screws his low drive a couple of feet wide of the near post from just outside the penalty box.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

By my watch only 22 seconds on the clock when Jamie McGrath fired home!

David Martindale applauded the home fans as the game approached and Livingston fans would've been well aware of the fact they've played Hibs twice this season and already and lost by an aggregate score of 6-0.

Can Livi at least find a goal to ask a question or two of the capital side now they are one down?

And off we go...

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

Falkirk are off the back of defeat by Celtic having won their previous two. Kilmarnock are looking to arrest a three-game losing streak.

This is the type of fixture for both that brings a great opportunity to strengthen their position if they can take three points.

It's hard to call but vitally important for both these sides to move towards the upper end of the table.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has been explaining dropping in-form trio Claudio Braga, Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley to the bench despite his desire to consolidate top place in the Premiership.

"Obviously, I've got to give a bit of encouragement and motivation to the rest of the squad," he told BBC Sportsound.

"We've had a lot of benefit from the consistency of selection, but a third game in six games means we have played two games since Dundee last played seven days ago and I thought it was the right time to make changes.

"But the three guys who drop to the bench had wee grumbles and we don't want to put any of these boys at risk. They are all fit enough to play a part from the bench.

"Dundee play deeper than most teams, so it might be a good game for Pierre Landry Kabore with his physical presence."

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley knows all about playing for an in-form Hearts side and is full of praise for current head coach Derek McInnes.

"Derek gets it," he told BBC Sportsound. "He's playing the type of football that very much gets these Hearts fans off their seats.

"It is aggressive, fast football and they ask questions of you as a team and they are very effective with it.

"They have a lot of things right just now, but equally we've had some good performances this season against some of the better teams, so we come here knowing it will take an elite level performance but we are capable of that."

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Hibs feel they could, and maybe should, have taken something from the midweek game with Rangers.

Head coach David Gray wants more from his side this afternoon at Livingston.

"We know the levels need to be really high," he told BBC Sportsound.

"Just because we've beaten them already this season means absolutely nothing. It's a different challenge today. Livingston will be right up for it and we need to be ready for that.

"If we go and win today, it doesn't matter what anybody else does, we'll be sitting third in the league after 11 fixtures."

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With just six points, and one win, to show for their 10 Scottish Premiership games so far this season, bottom side Livingston have a lot to do.

Manager David Martindale accepts that but feels there are occasions when the table doesn't tell the full story.

"It's a difficult moment we're in," Martindale told BBC Sportsound. "I knew it was going to be a difficult season. People say the league table doesn't lie but for me, it does. The boys have been a wee bit unlucky. I think we've got more then enough to go and get something from the game today.

"It's going to be a difficult game because I do believe Hibs will be top four this season."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Almondvale

It's nine games now without a win for David Martindale and his Livingston side and, if they are to keeps tabs on those above them, the urgency in picking points up quickly cannot be underestimated.

They take on a Hibernian side who have scored six in the past two meetings between the clubs without any reply from the home side so it’s easy to see why they are favourites today.

Although the sun is now out, there was heavy rain here two hours ago so the pitch will be slick and pacy.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Sportsound: "No, not necessarily [a chance in shape].

"I've always said it since day one, we need to be fluid as to who we're playing against, what the situation is.

"I don't think you're going to see us dramatically different in our approach and what we want to do from within the game.

"It's been a tough week, obviously you're now going into your third game in six days, hence why you need to make those changes.

"Obviously, we've not won any of the games within that period of time, so you're looking for a fresh impetus and you're looking to see if you can kick start something as quick as you possibly can and try and go on your next run in this league by how difficult it is."

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Sportsound: "We looked at it from three games in a week and we freshened things up in Celtic Park and then we freshened things back up here just to make sure that we've got plenty energy in the team. Simple as that."

McGlynn said midweek that his players must "bin" their 4-0 loss to Celtic and take clear minds into Saturday's Premiership visit of Kilmarnock

And he added: "As far as we're kind of concerned, we're coming here on the back of beating and Dundee and Motherwell.

"So we're confident."

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