Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

St Mirren are the first to threaten with a free kick just outside the box. From a tight angle, Adam Hammill fizzes a shot across the six-yard box but there are no takers.

The home fans are making a good noise as both sides probe for an opening at Pittodrie. Scott Sinclair tries to thread a ball through to Tom Rogic but a stretching Dom Ball makes a good interception on the edge of the Aberdeen penalty box.

Hearts: Doyle, Smith, Haring, Berra, Godinho, Lee, Djoum, Garrucio, Morrison, Naismith, MacLean.

Substitutes: Zlamal, Bozanic, Clare, Hughes, McDonald, Mulraney, Hickey.

Hamilton: Woods, McGowan, McMann, Gordon, Tshiembe, Imrie, Miller, Taiwo, Want, Martin, Brustad.

Substitutes: Marsden, Bingham, Gogic, Monlouis, Boyd, Sowah.

We are off at Pittodrie and St Mirren Park...

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright told Sportsound: “It’s important we come here and pick up points. It’s no good getting pats on the back and come here and not perform.

“We know it’s going to be tough. But we are coming here for three points, that’s our soul aim.

“It’ll be a tough game. They are fighting for their lives. It’s been a difficult season so far. They are at home and look at us as a team they can beat. But there’s no easy games in this league."

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney told Sportsound he is hoping for some consistency after the weekend's win over Motherwell.

“That’s the key thing [after beating Motherwell], we want to back it up. We want the same type of performance for the same result," he said.

“St Johnstone have been on a great run since we last played them. On Sunday they were quite impressive against Rangers. We are under no illusions but it’s so important first and foremost we get back up to that level to give ourselves a chance.”

Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Worrall, Halliday, Jack, McCrorie, Coulibaly, Candeias, Middleton, Morelos.

Substitutes: Foderingham, Wallace, Katic, Flanagan, Rossiter, Lafferty, Dallas.

Hibernian: Bogdan, Ambrose, McGregor, Hanlon, Boyle, Hyndman, Slivka, Mallan, Stevenson, Maclaren, Kamberi.

Substitutes: Dabrowski, Gray, Whittaker, Horgan, Shaw, Mackie, Gullan.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee: Hamilton, Kerr, Ralph, O'Dea, C Miller, Woods, Boyle, McGowan, Kallman, K Miller, Curran.

Substitutes: Parish, Nabi, Kamara, Inniss, Spence, Moore, Lambert.

Livingston: Kelly, Gallagher, Halkett, Lithgow, Cadden, Lawless, Byrne, Jacobs, Pittman, Menga, Hardie.

Substitutes: Stewart, Saunders, McMillan, Lawson, Sibbald, Hamilton, Miller.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland at St Mirren Park

A rather gloomy day in Paisley and though it felt quite mild when I arrived, the cold is already beginning to seep into my bones at the back of the Simple Digital Arena. The small, loyal band of St Johnstone supporters are gathered off to my right, hoping for a fifth straight away win to banish the memories of two home defeats by Rangers and Motherwell. Meanwhile, the home fans are looking for their side to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on Sportsound: "There's players back available and some out injured. Our last two performances at home have been very good.

"I just need to assess over the next couple of days where we are with Kieran Tierney.

"They're all big games. The hunger for our success is very much there. We've still got 20 games to play after. When you play Aberdeen home or away, it's always a tough game."

Rodgers added that reports about Celtic possibly signing Paris St-Germain's Timothy Weah was "all speculation".

Image source, SNS

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

Today’s Pittodrie encounter will provide a stern examination of Aberdeen and Celtic’s title credentials.

Having finished as the best of the rest for the past four seasons, a Dons victory would not only move them level with Brendan Rodgers' side at the top of the table, it would also be a real statement of intent and proof perhaps that they really have got what it takes to run the Hoops even closer than they have done in recent campaigns.

However, Celtic will be determined to grasp the chance to deliver a hammer blow to the dreams and aspirations of two of their main Premiership rivals over the coming days – the Dons this afternoon, then against Rangers at Ibrox this weekend.

An intriguing encounter awaits – and while it is true to say that nothing is decided in December, the outcome in the Granite City today – and in Govan on Saturday – will provide a strong indication about the way the top end of the Premiership is likely to play out over the coming months.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Sportsound: "It's the same three points as any other game. But it's important, physiologically, winning against the teams in and around you.

"We're hoping we can be as good as we've been recently. Celtic are still the biggest challenge for any team but there's not been much in the recent games, three 1-0 results.

"I feel as if the team is good enough to beat Celtic on any given day and hopefully that performance is in us today.

"For me, there is no title talk in our dressing room. We're not even in to January. Time for that talk is March and April.

Sam Cosgrove went 16 appearances without a goal for Aberdeen before opening his account with a double against St Mirren in early October.

A five-match quiet spell followed, along with a harsh red card at Ibrox, but the big man has bounced back in style with six goals in his last four outings, including back-to-back doubles.

Image source, SNS

The St Mirren players will have enjoyed their sprouts and chipolatas yesterday after picking up their first away win of the season at Motherwell.

It's hard to imagine St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright turning his nose up at a full roast and trimmings but he may have lost his appetite after that late goal that gave Rangers the win in Perth on Sunday.

However, a quick look at the stats might give the visitors reasons to be cheerful...

St Mirren have lost six of their past seven home league games and St Johnstone have only lost one of their past 10 visits to Paisley in the top flight (W4 D5).

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen have hit their stride since that defeat at Hampden, winning five of their past six matches and fairly flying up the table.

Another victory today would take them level with Celtic.

However, the Dons' recent record against the champions is not great.

Brendan Rodgers' side are seeking a fifth successive win at Pittodrie, while the hosts have lost nine of their past 10 league matches against Celtic.

Image source, SNS

These two have met twice already this season, with Celtic edging home 1-0 on each occasion.

The most recent of those showdowns came in the League Cup final at the start of December, when Ryan Christie struck at Hampden.

Image source, SNS

Cammy Smith and Adam Hammill are in for the hosts, with Ryan Edwards on the home bench and no sign of Cody Cooke from the 1-0 win at Motherwell.

St Johnstone freshen things up after losing out to Rangers, adding Tony Watt and Danny Swanson to the starting line-up in place of Ross Callachan and David Wotherspoon.

Aberdeen need to shuffle things around, with left-back Max Lowe missing through injury. Dominic Ball is the only change from Saturday's 2-0 win over Hearts and it looks like he will drop into central midfield, with skipper Graeme Shinnie filling in for Lowe.

Gary Mackay-Steven is still out after his cup final concussion at the start of the month.

Celtic welcome back defenders Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata from injury but the game comes too soon for Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney.

Captain Scott Brown returns, while Ryan Christie takes over up front, with Mikey Johnston dropping to the bench after his double against Dundee and goalkeeper Craig Gordon takes over from Scott Bain.

Anthony Ralston, Jozo Simunovic and Olivier Ntcham also drop out.