Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park

"A decent opening 15 minutes at Dens Park with both teams going close to finding the back of the net. Jamie Walker should have put Hearts ahead after 20 seconds but shot wide and Darren O'Dea came close at the other end heading a Greg Stewart corner inches away from the target. A very open game and surely only a matter of time before the first goal goes in."

Jordan Roberts is the next Caley Thistle player to try his luck, firing a fierce shot narrowly over the crossbar from the right of the penalty box.

Aberdeen continue to have the early impetus at Pittodrie. Barry Robson's corner meets the head of Ash Taylor but the hulking defender can't keep his header down.

The first chance of the match comes from a counter-attack as Liam Polworth breaks through only to shoot over the top for the home side.

Hearts are piling on the pressure as Scotland call-up Scott Bain does well to save from a Juanma header.

We heard earlier about a makeshift defence for Caley Thistle... 

Image source, SNS

Here's a scene from the warm-up but I don't think either of these guys are playing.

So close for the Dons as Kenny McLean drifts in from the right and takes aim for the far corner, his shot thumping against the base of the post.

Now Dundee threaten as Darren O'Dea heads just wide from a corner kick.

The visitors make a strong start at Dens Park, with Scott Bain needing to look lively to keep out a back-heel effort from Juanma.

Jamie Walker set up the chance and the winger really should have scored earlier but shot wide when through with just Bain to beat.

We're off. Can Aberdeen close the gap on Premiership leaders Celtic?

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park

"A decent crowd inside Dens Park with plenty at stake for for teams.

"The home side will go into fourth place with a win today as Paul Hartley looks to get the better of his former club.

"Robbie Neilson going for a fourth straight win in the league and the large travelling support could get their first glimpse of new American midfielder Perry Kitchen who is on the bench."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at the Caledonian Stadium

"A vital game for both sides in terms of pulling away from 11th place. The home side perhaps trying to focus on top six but can still be dragged back. Talk about makeshift defence for Inverness CT though, only Danny Devine is a regular in that starting back line today. Hamilton missing Ali Crawford through injury."

Celtic forward Gary Mackay-Steven: "Obviously they got the goal and put us under pressure in the last 10 minutes, and it is never nice when you are hanging on like that. But overall I felt we deserved the three points.

"In the first half we created a lot and if we had taken a few more chances, we could have made it a little more comfortable for ourselves.But this is never an easy place to come and win, so it is a crucial three points for us.

"It is nice to get the three points on the board early but we know how well Aberdeen are going. This league is going to go down to the wire. But if we look after ourselves, that is all we can do."

Image source, SNS

Inverness CT: Fon-Williams, Draper, Devine, Wedderburn, Horner, Tansey, D.Williams, Polworth, Hughes, Vigurs, Roberts. Subs: Esson, R.Williams, Foran, Brown, MacLennan, Storey. 

Hamilton Academical: McGovern, Gordon, Tagliapietra, Devlin, Kurakins, Gillespie, Imrie, MacKinnon, Docherty, Kurtaj, Morris Subs: Martin, Diaby, D'Acol, Redmond, Brophy, Lyon, Boyd.

Caley Thistle will be glad to be back on home turf after a run of five games on the road.

That sequence did not yield a win and one would be handy today if the hosts are to avoid the scrap to avoid 11th spot.

Hamilton are three points behind the Highlanders but victories have been scarce of late, with just three successes in their past 22 games. All three of those were away from home though...

Fit-again Niall McGinn returns to the Aberdeen side, with Mark Reynolds dropping to the bench. Veteran Barry Robson, 37, also makes his second start in three games, in place of Craig Storie.

Aberdeen: Brown, Logan, Shinnie, Considine, Taylor, Jack, McLean, McGinn, Hayes, Robson Church. Subs: Collin, Reynolds, Storie, Flood, Ross, Wright, Smith. 

Kilmarnock: MacDonald, Hodson, Smith, Findlay, Balatoni, McKenzie, Dicker, Obadeyi, Kiltie, Faubert, Magennis Subs: Brennan, Boyd, Higginbotham, O'Hara, Ashcroft, Slater, Frizzell.

Well, Derek McInnes has finally given up on on his public pretence and admitted his Aberdeen side are in the thick of the title race.

"We were a penalty-kick decision against St Johnstone away from sitting top of the league, so it would be foolish to think we weren't in a fight," he said on Friday. "We intend to make the most of the nine games."

The Dons have won six of their last eight league games, while Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark is yet to taste victory in his three matches in charge.

Remember when Killie used to have a good record against Aberdeen? Well, that's long gone. Aberdeen are aiming for a 10th successive win in this fixture.

Hearts defender Jordan McGhee comes in to replace the injured Igor Rossi, while there’s a place on the bench for new signing Perry Kitchen - a welcome addition for all headline writers.

Dundee make two changes from the 4-0 Scottish Cup reverse to Rangers; Kostadin Gadzhalov and Cammy Kerr replacing Thomas Konrad and Rory Loy.

Dundee: Bain, McGinn, Holt, O'Dea, Gadzhalov, Kerr, Harkins, Ross, McGowan, Stewart, Hemmings. Subs: Mitchell, Konrad, Meggatt, Low, Loy, Arturo, Wighton.  

Hearts: Alexander, L. Smith, Ozturk, Souttar, McGhee, Buaben, Cowie, Djoum, Nicholson, Walker, Juanma. Subs: Hamilton, Oshaniwa, Augustyn, Pallardo, Kitchen, Reilly, Dauda.