It's getting tough at the top of Scotland's League Two, where Edinburgh City need to get over last weekend's Challenge Cup defeat by Connah's Quay Nomads, whose win on penalties made history as the Welsh side became the first non-Scottish team to reach the final.

But they will fancy themselves to retain their lead in League Two as they host a Cowdenbeath side who relied on a single goal against bottom side Albion Rovers 1-0 on Tuesday to end a run of four games without a victory.

Peterhead, who narrowed the gap to one point with a game in hand, are away to a Stirling Albion outfit whose seven-game unbeaten run was ended away to Elgin City last weekend.

Third-top Clyde, who also have a game in hand and are now only three off the top, are on an unbeaten run of 13 games as they head to Hampden to face Queen's Park, who have only won once in the same time span.

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He's not just an expert in cakes, he's also the man for traffic updates as well.

Kenny Crawford tells us Ayr's Michael Rose has arrived at Somerset Park less than 20 minutes before kick-off.

The title race appears to be all over already in Scottish League One after Arbroath beat nearest challengers Raith Rovers last weekend to extend their lead to 16 points.

The Red Lichties will be confident of retaining that advantage as they host Airdrieonians, who have gone six games without a win.

Second-top Rovers, who have now gone four games without victory, are at home to fifth-placed Montrose.

Forfar Athletic, level on points with the Kirkcaldy outfit, host bottom side Stenhousemuir after contrasting fortunes against Montrose.

The Loons missed a chance to go second last weekend when losing at Links Park, while Stenny's last outing was a win over the Gable Endies two weeks ago.

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Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland at Tony Macaroni Arena

The focus at Livingston will be very much on Steve Clarke. The reverberations are still being felt after his well-aimed broadside at sectarianism on Wednesday night.

The impassioned nature of his post-match media conference has formed the narrative of the week, sparking fresh impetus into the debate on how to rid our game of this particularly poisonous ill.

In terms of the on-the-pitch action at Ibrox, Clarke was furious at the sending off of Daniel Bachmann. That red card has now been rescinded and means the goalkeeper is available this afternoon.

The Austrian has been impressive between the sticks, but it’s up at the other end where there is a slight concern for Kilmarnock of late. They have failed to score in their last three matches. Indeed, the Rugby Park club are without a win in six games.

It’s worse, though, for Livingston. They haven’t won any of their last nine matches. The 5-0 demolition of Hearts back on 14 December was the last time the Lions tasted victory.

It finished 0-0 here between these sides back in August, so perhaps we shouldn’t expect El Classico in the El Plastico. A hard-fought encounter undoubtedly on the cards.

Ross County can't afford to dwell on their midweek Scottish Cup exit at the hands of neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

They sit top of the Scottish Championship by two points with a game in hand and have gone six games without defeat if you discount the midweek extra time and penalties.

But today they visit a Partick Thistle side who are on their own impressive run of five straight wins and seven without defeat as Gary Caldwell's outfit have lifted themselves off the bottom of the table.

Second-top Ayr United are at home to Dunfermline Athletic, who will have been relieved to end their wait for a first win under new manager Stevie Crawford - and their first in five games.

Third-placed Dundee United, seeking a fourth straight win, also face a difficult task away to Falkirk, whose five unbeaten have lifted them off the bottom.

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Michael Stewart
Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Livingston manager Gary Holt makes four changes to the side that lost to Dundee last weekend.

Chris Erskine, Stevie Lawless and Craig Sibbald come into the starting line-up, with Shaun Byrne suspended and Ryan Hardie, Scott Robinson and Hakeem Odoffin dropping to the bench.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann starts for Kilmarnock after successfully appealing against his midweek red card at Ibrox, but manager Steve Clarke makes seven changes to his team.

Ross Millen, Stuart Findlay, Calum Waters, Rory McKenzie, Aaron Tshibola, Jordan Jones and Kris Boyd all start, while Stephen O'Donnell, Gary Dicker and Chris Burke move to the bench. Greg Taylor, Alex Bruce, Alan Power and Conor McAleny all miss out.

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St Mirren manager Oran Kearney watched his side twice lose a lead in last week's 2-2 draw with Aberdeen and the last time the Buddies met Hearts they won 2-0.

"It took a big performance that day and we know what it takes, particularly even at home to come against sides like Hearts and Aberdeen, but away from home they're an even tougher task," Kearney told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"We're well aware of how tough it's going to be today, but we want to try and hit the same performance levels as well.

"We've 12 games left now, we have a huge 36 points to play for. We want to try and nail as many of those points as possible."

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Hearts' run of games without defeat ended at four thanks to that goalkeeping calamity in stoppage time last weekend as Colin Doyle allowed David Turnbull's free-kick to slip through his grasp.

In contrast, St Mirren, five points adrift at the foot of the table, have gone six games without a win, but they will take heart from last weekend's 2-2 draw away to Aberdeen, which ended a run of five defeats.

Indeed, the Buddies won their last meeting, 2-0 in Paisley in November

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has just told me Shay Logan needs an operation on an ankle injury and may miss the rest of the season.

McInnes says the club may bring in an out-of-contract right-back as cover.

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Hearts manager Craig Levein has been telling BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound his thinking behind his change in goal, with Zdenek 'Bobby' Zlamal replacing Colin Doyle, who made a mistake in last week's loss to Motherwell.

"That's a huge decision for me," Levein says. "I was toying with putting Bobby back in. Part of me's saying, 'give Colin another opportunity'.

"So it was really difficult for me. I actually made my decision based on the training this week and I felt that Bobby trained better than Colin, so that's how close it was.

"I don't think there's an awful lot between them. I don't put it solely down to the error last week because I'm not one for hanging people out to dry. I had to make a decision."

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Nine is the not so magic number for Livingston, who have slipped to that position in the table after that many games without a win after having virtually secured their stay in the top flight thanks to their form before Christmas.

They host a Kilmarnock side embroiled in their own mini-crisis after six games without a win and having suffered a 5-0 Scottish Cup thumping by Rangers in midweek.

Kilmarnock are unbeaten in seven meetings with Livingston since March 2005 and won 2-0 when Livi visited in December.

But the sides finished goalless on the Ayrshire side's last visit to the Tony Macaroni Stadium in August.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright goes with the same team that stopped a run of five straight defeats with a goalless draw against Rangers last week.

Striker Tony Watt has recovered from an ankle knock and takes his place on the bench.

Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban has been ruled out for the season with cruciate ligament damage, so in comes Dominic Ball to play at right-back with Shay Logan also injured.

Also dropping out the XI is forward Niall McGinn, who's on the bench, who is replaced with Connor McLennan.

Scotland centre-back Scott McKenna completes a three-game ban.

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St Johnstone have gone six games without a win, but they will take heart from having ended a run of five defeats with a fine draw away to Rangers last weekend.

They are also unbeaten in their two meetings with the Dons this season - following up a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park in September with a 2-0 victory at Pittodrie in December.

However, Aberdeen have not lost in their last four trips to Perth, have only lost once - at home to Rangers - in their last nine outings and have won six away games in a row.

Saints' usual fine home record has deserted them in recent weeks and they have lost three of last four at McDiarmid Park.

Goalkeeper Colin Doyle is dropped to the Hearts bench following his error in last weekend's 2-1 defeat by Motherwell. Zdenek Zlamal takes over in goal.

Influential Peter Haring, who can play in defence or midfield, returns to the starting line-up after missing the past seven weeks following hernia surgery.

Ben Garuccio sits out through suspension after being sent off against Well last week, which presents a problem at full-back with both Michael Smith and Demetri Mitchell both remaining on the sidelines.

Defender Clevid Dikamona and midfielder Olly Lee return for the hosts, while Oliver Bozanic and Conor Shaughnessy join Doyle on the bench and Marcus Godino misses out.

Full-back Ethan Erhahon and midfielder Greg Tansey start for St Mirren in place of Anton Ferdinand and Brad Lyons, neither of whom are in the squad.

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Heart of Midlothian: Zlamal, Souttar, Berra, Dikamona, Djoum, Haring, Lee, Mulraney, Naismith, Clare, Ikpeazu.

Substitutes: Doyle, Shaughnessy, Bozanic, MacLean, Keena, Morrison, Hickey.

St Mirren: Hladky, P McGinn, Baird, Popescu, Muzek, Erhahon, MacPherson, Flynn, Tansey, McAllister, Nazon.

Substitutes: Holmes, MacKenzie, Corbu, Dreyer, Mullen, Cooke, Jackson.

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Image source, BBC Sport

Livingston: Kelly, Gallagher, Halkett, Lithgow, Lamie, Lawson, Pittman, Sibbald, Jacobs, Lawless, Erskine.

Substitutes: Stewart, Wylde, Odoffin, Brown, Robinson, Tiffoney, Hardie.

Kilmarnock: Bachmann, Millen, Findlay, Boyd, Waters, McKenzie, Tshibola, Mulumbu, Jones, Boyd, Brophy.

Substitutes: MacDonald, O'Donnell, Dicker, Ndjoli, Millar, Frizzel, Burke.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

St Johnstone: Bell, Foster, Tanser, Shaughnessy, Kerr, Craig, Wotherspoon, Kennedy, Goss, Davidson, Kane.

Substitutes: Hurst, Keown, Alston, Callachan, Swanson, Watt, Hendry.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Ball, Considine, Devlin, Lowe, Shinnie, Ferguson, McLennan, Mackay-Steven, Stewart, Cosgrove.

Substitutes: Cerny, Gleeson, Wilson, McGinn, May, Campbell, Virtanen.

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