The teams are now out on that artificial pitch I mentioned. Here's hoping for a goal fest like their 2-2 draw earlier in the season.

With the gales and driving rain we've had, we should perhaps be thankful to Accies' artificial surface for having a game on at all. However, we are a couple of minutes away from kick-off.

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has made three changes, with Blair Spittal, Charlie Telfer and Aidan Connolly - all aged 19 - in for Keith Watson, John Rankin and Chris Erskine, who all started on the bench. That could mean a change in formation too, with two midfielders and a forward replacing a defender and two midfielders.

"I just felt for the match I wanted players on the pitch who are 100% focused on the job they have to do.

"It is different for me in how I have prepared for the match and that's why I didn't pick myself.

"It will take time and it was something that Alex found difficult at first as well.

"The week has gone that quick that my total focus is on taking charge tonight.

"I don't think there is anything to worry about with Darian, but we'll see how it goes."

Martin Canning has decided to replace himself in the Accies defence with Jesus Garcia Tena.

Hamilton looked to have a problem in the warm-up with midfielder Darian MacKinnon pulling up, according to trackside reporter Chick Young. However, he seems to have recovered and should be able to start.

Hamilton: McGovern, Gillespie, Garcia Tena, Devlin, Hendrie, Imrie, Routledge, MacKinnon, Crawford, Andreu, Antoine-Curier. Subs: Canning, Watson, Longridge, Brophy, Docherty, Redmond, Hill.

Dundee Utd: Cierzniak, Spittal, Dillon, Fojut, Townsend, Telfer, Butcher, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Connolly, Ciftci. Subs: Paton, Rankin, Watson, Erskine, Dow, Szromnik, Coote.

Referee: Bobby Madden

Can Martin Canning win the Hamilton job permanently? Can either of tonight's teams keep up a title challenge? Give us your thoughts.

One of Martin Canning's first decisions as Hamilton player-coach is to drop himself to the bench. Probably so he can concentrate on the management job rather than a lack of confidence.

Charlie Telfer, who moved from Rangers during the summer, starts in midfielder for Dundee United and the teenager is being praised by manager Jackie McNamara.

" I think he is a special talent, so much touch and composure and we are giving him more in terms of strength and conditioning," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"He will be a great talent not just for us but for Scotland."

"We need to win games like tonight before we can talk about putting in a title challenge.

"Our away form has not been good enough so far.

"Hamilton have done it for a number of years with some good young players and I have three teenagers starting tonight.

"We saw at Kilmarnock that we need to win the physical battle first and hopefully the youngsters can do that."

Hamilton will kick off tonight sitting in fifth place, one place and one point above tonight's visitors.

Something must give at New Douglas Park, where Hamilton are seeking a third straight victory and their fourth consecutive three points at home. Dundee United are looking to extend their unbeaten run to three matches and have not lost to Hamilton in their last six meetings.

Hamilton go into the game under new management. Since defeating St Johnstone 1-0 in Perth on 4 January, Alex Neil has headed south to become Norwich City manager. So defender Martin Canning, who like Neil is 33, faces his first game as interim player-coach.

Good evening and welcome to our live text coverage of the last Scottish Premiership game of an extended weekend as Hamilton Academical host Dundee United. And it promises to be a cracker between two in-form sides.