Opta have crunched the numbers to rank the difficulty of each Scottish Premiership club's first four fixtures of the 2025-26 season.
According to their data model, St Mirren have the toughest start, followed by two clubs helmed by new managers, Dundee and Motherwell.
As for the easiest, Hibernian and capital rivals Hearts should got off to a flier, right?
Take a look below to see where your side places...
Image source, SNSAside from the first game of the season against Aberdeen, all dates are subject to change as a result of broadcast and other requirements.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSThe first Edinburgh derby of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season will take place on Saturday, 4 October. Derek McInnes' side welcome Hibernian to Tynecastle for a 15:00 BST kick-off.
Hearts' first trip to Easter Road in the league is set to be a festive cracker on Saturday, 27 December at 12:30.
One week before that, Hearts host Rangers in their final league outing before Christmas and the Tynecastle men round off 2025 with a trip to newly-promoted Falkirk.
The final derby of the pre-split season is pencilled in for Wednesday, 11 February at 19:45 in Gorgie.
Hearts complete the pre-split campaign at home to Motherwell on Saturday, 11 April.
Looking at the fixture list, where do you think Hearts will be after 10 games? Have your say here.
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes' first Scottish Premiership game as Hearts boss will be at home to his former side Aberdeen.
The match will take place on Monday, 4 August at 20:00 BST, with Hearts' first away fixture against Dundee United on Saturday, 9 August at 15:00.
See Hearts' Scottish Premiership fixtures in full here.
All times BST
Image source, SNSHearts have appointed Ross Grant as their first set-play coach.
After sporting director Graeme Jones highlighted the desire for a dedicated set-piece coach, the Tynecastle club have appointed Grant from Dundee United.
He coached in the professional phase of the Tannadice club's academy, and brings 15 years of experience to Gorgie.
Grant was general manager at former Hearts interim boss Austin MacPhee's 'AM Soccer Club' before providing support to MacPhee in his set-piece roles with Aston Villa and the Scotland national team.
Grant says his understanding of set-piece "importance" has developed from working with MacPhee.
In last season's Scottish Premiership, Hearts had eight goals assisted via a set-piece. Motherwell had the most with 13.
Midfielder Blair Spittal created 23 chances from set-pieces - the most by any Hearts player - while United's Will Ferry created the most in the league with 28.
Grant is "excited to develop innovation and creativity" from set-pieces.
"I had a good conversation with Graeme Jones about integrating set-play coaching into the club," he said.
"I'll look to provide clarity, but I'm also excited to develop innovation and creativity about how we make set-pieces more successful in both attacking and defensive terms.
"I'm looking forward to working with the new management team ahead of the new season."
Right-back Christian Borchgrevink and winger Alexandros Kyziridis can't wait to get started with Hearts
Having signed pre-contracts with Hearts at the tail end of last season, right-back Christian Borchgrevink and winger Alexandros Kyziridis have landed at Tynecastle.
Both join on three-year deals, with Borchgrevink moving from Valarenga in Norway and Kyziridis from Slovakian top-flight club Zemplin Michalovce.
Borchgrevink, 26, signed back in April, when Neil Critchley was still in charge, while 24-year-old Kyziridis was the first recruit after Derek McInnes was appointed.
Now officially a Tynecastle player, Greek Kyziridis can't wait to score goals in Gorgie.
"What excites me the most? To score in this stadium," he told HeartsTV.
"I see this stadium, I can imagine that it will be every game full and this imagination makes me so happy."
Kyziridis scored 16 goals and provided eight assists for Zemplin Michalovce last season.
"I see many great things here and I'm sure that I'm going to enjoy it," he added. "From my side, I will do my best for this club, for everyone here.
"I'm really happy to be here and excited. The decision that I took was, to be honest, very easy.
"From the moment that I heard that this big club wanted me, I just said, OK, let's go. It was so simple."
While it was simple for Kyziridis, his new team-mate Borchgrevink is looking forward to the "physical" Scottish Premiership as he "enjoys a bit of a scrap".
"The first talks I had with [sporting director] Graeme [Jones], talking about the project, how they want me to fit into that project and the system, I can see myself as a football player," the Norwegian said.
"Coming to a big club and then hopefully challenging in the league and hopefully in Europe as well. For me, my ambition is to play on big stages and I think that's a good opportunity to do so here.
"I'm looking forward to it as well because I can enjoy a bit of a scrap, a bit of a duel.
"Maybe it's going to take a while to get used to, but then again, I think that kind of football suits me well as well.
"I think the biggest part of my game or what I enjoy the most is attacking, like many others, but I like to go run up and down the wing and then I enjoy crossing with my right foot as well."
No sooner does the season finish and we start looking forward to key dates for the next campaign - and that will be a lot easier to do on Friday when the Scottish Premiership fixtures are released.
That's right, that special day in the calendar is almost here already. The day when you'll learn details of derby fixtures, Christmas opponents and the run-in to the split.
This page will bring you all the fixtures when they drop at 09:00 BST on Friday and we'll be giving you the chance to have your say on how things look.
The new campaign kicks off on the weekend of Saturday, 2 August and will conclude on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
Image source, SNSStuart Findlay hopes to get Tynecastle "bouncing" after joining Hearts on a season-long loan and reuniting with manager Derek McInnes.
The Oxford United centre-back spent the past two seasons on loan at Kilmarnock with McInnes, who "knows how to get the best out of me" and was "a massive factor" in Findlay signing for Hearts.
The 29-year-old credits McInnes for "rediscovering" his career and insists he knows what the manager demands to deliver success.
"It's a massive, massive club who I've played against - I've played at this stadium many times and you know by the atmosphere, the supporters out there, it's a fantastic place to play football," Findlay told club media.
"It's a place I love to play my football. I think anybody who's played here, anyone who knows their football knows the type of arena Tynecastle can be when it's bouncing, and hopefully, with the season we're all planning on having, it'll be like that more than it's not. I just really can't wait to get started.
"Doubled up with the fact there's a manager who I know believes in me and a manager who I believe in.
"I've got a really good working relationship with him for our previous club and it's something I'm really looking forward to try and bring forward into this new chapter in my career.
"He really helped me rediscover my form after a couple of years of not playing. That's another massive reason why I've come here, he's a manager who knows how to get the best out of me.
"I know what he expects from his teams, day in, day out, and I hope to bring that to this club and we're as successful as we can possibly be here."
Image source, Getty ImagesTony Bloom's proposed investment of close to £10m in Heart of Midlothian moved a step closer after it was approved at an extraordinary general meeting of the club's shareholders.
The Brighton & Hove Albion owner is to invest £9.86m in return for a 29% stake via non-voting shares.
The transaction was overwhelmingly backed by members of Foundation of Hearts – the supporters' group who hold a majority shareholding.
That led to Wednesday's EGM and an update from Tynecastle said that "all of the resolutions have been passed".
Image source, SNSHearts won all three of the games Ryan Fulton featured in last term
Ryan Fulton's contract extension gives Hearts "strength and stability" in the goalkeeping department, says head coach Derek McInnes.
The 29-year-old, who arrived at Tynecastle last summer from Hamilton, has penned a new deal that runs until the summer of 2027.
Fulton, who played three times last term, will continue to provide competition for the number one spot with Craig Gordon and Zander Clark.
"It's so important to have strong goalkeeping options to choose from," Hearts boss McInnes said. "With Ryan committing his future to the club, we have that that strength and stability.
"I know from speaking to [goalkeeper coach] Paul Gallacher that Ryan is a top professional who gives his all in training and pushes his team-mates to be better.
"Ryan had to be patient last season, but I think everybody saw, when he was called into action, that he is a quality goalkeeper and we're fortunate to have him."
Claudio Braga thinks "it's going to be amazing" to play for Hearts after his switch from Aalesunds for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old Portuguese forward has been the Norwegian second-tier side's top scorer for the last three seasons and puts that down to pure hard work.
"I know the fans love hard workers and I promise that, sometimes I'll fail, sometimes I'll miss, but for sure I'll try my best in every game - that's the secret," he told Hearts' website.
Braga expects plenty of "intensity and aggression" from Scottish Premiership defences but aims to meet fire with fire.
Also highlighting his versatility, he said: "Wherever the coach wants to put me - number 10, front two, or on the wing - I am fine with that."
Asked about new head coach Derek McInnes, Braga added: "I felt a lot of interest in me and that helped me be very interested in the club."
His move was the result of "a lot of conversations" and he is now relishing the prospect of playing "in front of 20,000 fans at Tynecastle".
Danny Armstrong has had "options from all over the world" since deciding to leave Kilmarnock amid reported interest from Hearts. (Scottish Sun), external
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon hopes new manager Derek McInnes can replicate the impact George Burley had on the club at the start of the 2005-06 season. (Daily Record), external
Image source, SNS"Happy endings don't happen often in football, but it'd be ideal."
As Craig Gordon prepares for his 24th season in football, it's understandable he's also thinking about how his illustrious chapter in the game ends.
The 42-year-old goalkeeper recently signed a new one-year deal with Hearts and started between the sticks for Scotland in March, but even the man who's defied all odds with his longevity in the game knows the end is nigh.
That doesn't mean his outlook or attitude has changed, though.
He's still as driven as the young man who first stepped into Hearts in 1999 and as determined as the chap who battled back from multiple career-ending injuries.
"Trying to be the best I can be is how I got here and it's the only way to stay here," Gordon said, previewing his testimonial next month against Sunderland.
"Regardless of age and what I have to do to get to that level, that's the process and that's what I stick to trying to do.
"No matter what I'm doing, whether it's in training, in games, whether I'm reflecting on the performances, analysing, it's to be the best that I can possibly be.
"Trying to improve, I still think that's possible even at this age. You still have to try and improve things that you can improve and that's what keeps me going."
The prospect of reaching a World Cup does too.
Scotland begin their qualifying campaign in September, and if fit, Gordon would be expected to be in the mix, particularly given the recent struggles Steve Clarke has had in that position.
"[Appearing at a World Cup] would be ideal, but there's an awful lot of football to be played," he added.
"Happy endings don't happen often in football, so that's something to work towards, something to give everything that I've possibly got to try and achieve and then we'll see where it takes us."
Hearts have missed out on Australian winger Daniel Arzani, 26, who is joining Budapest club Ferencvaros from Melbourne Victory. (Scottish Sun), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSThe SPFL confirmed attendances have risen for a third consecutive season and thanked fans for their "incredible support".
Crowds across all leagues, cups and play-off matches totalled more than 5.3 million, a rise of nearly 185,000 from the 2023-24 season.
"We will be having further meetings with key stakeholders over the summer to review the most recent season and look ahead to 2025-26," the SPFL statement ends.
"We remain committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable matchday experience for players and supporters - they are the lifeblood of our game and deserve nothing less."
Aberdeen are not among the clubs looking to sign Iraq winger Marko Farji despite a report suggesting they are vying with Heart of Midlothian to sign the Stromsgodset 21-year-old. (Press & Journal), external
Huddersfield Town have decided against appointing Joe Savage to their recruitment team after holding talks with the former Hearts sporting director. (Football Insider), external
Image source, SNSCraig Gordon believes Derek McInnes' "motivation and passion" has "lifted everybody" at Hearts since he was appointed the new head coach.
McInnes was announced as boss at the end of the season, and will soon meet up with his squad for pre-season before the League Cup group stage begins next month.
Goalkeeper Gordon, will also play his testimonial in July against his former club Sunderland and the 42-year-old is excited by all that's to come.
"Derek seems really motivated, really excited to get in the position," Gordon said at Tynecastle.
"He phoned me from his holidays to just have a chat about things and the main thing I took from it was how passionate, how excited he was to get started and get everybody going.
"I think that's going to rub off on everybody here.
"Even speaking to players after, because I know he's spoken to a lot of them, everybody's saying the same thing.
"It seems to have lifted everybody just even hearing the way he's talking, how passionate he is about it, so I think everybody's really looking forward to getting started."
Nigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu is a transfer target for Hearts but the 19-year-old who played in the Turkish second-tier with Sanliurfaspor last season is attracting interest from all over Europe. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Stromsgodset winger Marko Farji is on Hearts' transfer radar - with Aberdeen also showing interest in the Iraq international. (Daily Record), external
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
We asked for your views on the ongoing situation between Lawrence Shankland and Hearts, with the striker yet to decide on his future.
As it stands, the Scotland forward is set to depart Tynecastle as a free agent - but do you think he will stay or go?
Here's what some of you said:
Pete: He'll most likely be moving on and good luck to him. He scored a lot of goals for us and deserves to get a big pay day. However, if he's to make a success of any move, he'll have to sort out his conditioning which, for a professional athlete, was terrible last season.
Keith: It's gone on long enough, get rid of him and bring in a new striker. It's quite clear he doesn't want to play for Hearts.
Jim: The word on the street is Shankland isn't going to sign a new contract, which is a pity, as I'd love him to stay. He has to do what he thinks is right for him and his family, so if he does move on, he does so with my thanks and best wishes and I hope the majority of all Hearts fans think the same.
Chris: Shankland will leave, when his contract is done he will announce it. He's been a fantastic servant and if he stayed with us he would have had a few cracking years of football left, but I understand this is his last chance to move and make some money for his family. Goes with the best of wishes.
Ellie: Time for Shankland to move on. Never been happy with his attitude all season and as Derek McInnes has been quoted as saying, 'Hearts are not a back-up plan'. No player is bigger than the club. Time we stopped pandering to him.
Hearts are closing in on a deal to sign Oxford United and former Kilmarnock defender Stuart Findlay, 29. (Sun), external
The Tynecastle club are also progressing with a deal to sign Aalesund FK's Portuguese forward Claudio Bravo, 25. (Record), external
