Kilmarnock's Niko Hamalainen rampages through the centre of the pitch and drives a shot towards goal, but it's well blocked by St Johnstone's Jason Kerr. It's a fairly even game, but it's the home side who have the all-important first goal.

A big chance goes begging for the champions.

Leigh Griffiths floats in a free-kick from the left and Christopher Jullien rises unchallenged six yards out to head straight at County keeper Nathan Baxter.

James Scott looks dangerous down the left for Motherwell in the opening minutes - he shows quick feet to get away from Tom James then cuts inside and sends a curling effort just wide of the far post.

A lovely jinking run from Mikey Johnston almost cuts County open, but his through ball is a tad too heavy for Leigh Griffiths to latch on to.

Griffiths then gets on the end of a Jonny Hayes cross but can't get it on target. County were already 1-0 down by this stage on their last visit, so signs of progress for the Staggies...

And away we go...

Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer is relaxed about six straight defeats and is confident his team have been playing better than their recent record shows: "The boys are training well every day and playing well too," he told BBC Scotland. "We just need a result."

On any further signings, Dyer added: "There may be one or two more in, no more than that. But if nobody comes in I know this squad's good enough to push us up the league."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Life after Matty Kennedy starts for St Johnstone today after the winger departed Perth early for pastures new at Pittodrie.

His creativity and guile will be a huge miss for Saints boss Tommy Wright who yesterday very publicly expressed his disappointment with the lack of recruitment during this transfer window.

He must put those frustrations aside today as his side look to secure a win which would move them level on points with Kilmarnock in seventh.

The visitors don’t have their troubles to seek either, they’ve travelled to McDiarmid Park looking to end a dismal run of eight league games without a win.

There’s not been much between the sides this season, there has been just one goal in their two previous meetings, so don’t be surprised if they serve up a similarly tight encounter today

Hamilton manager Brian Rice is pleased to concentrate on the football after a week in which he admitted to breaking Scottish FA gambling rules and lost captain Brian Easton and striker George Oakley to injuries.

"It is all about three o'clock on a Saturday and our total focus is on that," he tells BBC Scotland.

"It is a big game for us. We have a good performance in midweek for about an hour.

"We have had throw Sam Woods from Crystal Palace straight in as we have quite a serious injury list, but no excuses - that's what we've got a squad for."

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Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson admits changes were forced upon him, with Jermaine Hylton and Chris Long missing out through illness and injury, but insists 20-year-old Ross MacIver deserves his start.

"I've every faith in Ross MacIver, he's been excellent and earned his chance," he tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"We've brought players in during the window but I think Ross is ahead of them - the way I work is if they train better they play.

"I believe it's really important to keep the momentum going. Looking at the Hibs line-up it's a really attacking team. We're hoping it's a really attacking game, that will give the managers heart attacks no doubt, but one that hopefully the fans will enjoy and we will come out in top of.

"People are coming in and sitting in against us and hit us on the counter-attack. It shows our level - teams coming and sitting in against little Motherwell. I don't think it'll be the case today though, I think it'll be a very attacking game."

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Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson says his side are not "here to be lambs to the slaughter" as they look to avoid another Celtic drubbing.

The Staggies lost 6-0 on their previous visit to Parkhead this season and were beaten 4-1 at home by Neil Lennon's side.

Ferguson tells BBC Scotland Sportsound: "You need to be a realist when you come to Celtic Park. Last time we left with our tail between our legs and don't want that to happen again.

"We need to make sure we've learned from those mistakes and see if we can make it much more difficult for Celtic to break us down. We can't let things spiral out of control and go chasing things."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon explains the absence of first-choice striker Odsonne Edouard from his starting line-up.

Lennon tells BBC Scotland Sportsound: “Odsonne's had a problem with his toe. He had an X-ray on it yesterday, thankfully there is no fracture but we don't want to take chances with him with the amount of games coming up.

"He could come on at some stage, but wouldn't be fit to do the whole 90 minutes."

Edoaurd's absence means Leigh Griffiths leads the line alone and Lennon is backing the Scotland forward to continue his recent revival.

“He has shown good form in the last couple of games and come back with a bang," Lennon says.

“He gets sometimes unfair media attention. He was subject of a lot of abuse at Rugby Park the other night which was totally uncalled for. We need to let him get on with what he does best and that’s playing football."

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Hibernian head coach Jack Ross says his side deserve plaudits for their recent form which has seen them climb the Scottish Premiership table - but he wants to be higher than sixth place.

He tells BBC Scotland: "The team that finished on Wednesday [in the 2-1 comeback win against Hamilton] is the bulk of who starts today - the team were good in the second-half.

"It's one of the toughest grounds you can get in the league now at Motherwell. In order for us to climb higher in the table we have to win games like today.

"Over the last 10 or 11 games we're just tucked in behind Motherwell in the form table by a point or two. The team have turned around a difficult position.

"We're still not in a position we want to be in terms of the ambitions for the club but we've slowly made improvements and will look to continue that today."

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Livingston manager Gary Holt has confirmed that the Premiership club have informed Ayr United they wish to talk to winger Alan Forest.

The 23-year-old brother of Celtic's James is out of contract this summer and Livingston hope to sign him on a pre-contract agreement.

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On-loan Crystal Palace defender Sam Woods comes straight into the Hamilton starting XI, but fellow midweek signing Luke Southwood has to wait for his return to the Accies side.

The goalkeeper is back on loan from Reading after returning to the English side earlier this month but is on the bench as manager Brian Rice sticks with Wales international Owain Fon Williams.

There are, though, three other changes to the side defeated 2-1 by Hibs in midweek, with Shaun Want coming into defence in the absence through injury of Brian Easton and Lewis Smith replacing Blair Alston in midfield.

Marios Ogkmpoe, who usually impresses off the bench, gets his chance up front in place of the injured George Oakley.

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Having signed a new contract yesterday, Craig Sibbald comes into Livingston's midfield in place of Keaghan Jacobs as one of three changes from Wednesday's 1-0 win over St Johnstone.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair replaces Steve Lawson in defence, with winger Aymen Souda preferred to Scott Robinson in midfield.

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright was bemoaning his club's lack of activity in the transfer market this month only yesterday and he's now lost Matty Kennedy to Aberdeen earlier than planned, although that should give him some money to invest.

He makes three changes to the team after losing to Livingston on Wednesday as Scott Tanser replaces Anthony Ralston at full-back, while David Wotherspoon comes in to the midfield as Liam Craig drops to the bench. Chris Kane also returns to the forward line as Michael O'Halloran misses out altogether.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer makes two changes after the loss to Celtic as he searches for his first league win in charge. Dario Del Fabro comes into the centre of defence for Alex Bruce, while Greg Kiltie replaces Mohamed El Makrini in midfield.

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Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, who has a minor foot problem, drops to the bench in one of three changes from the 3-1 midweek win at Kilmarnock.

Kris Ajer, who has a virus, and the injured Jeremie Frimpong also make way, with right-back Moritz Bauer and wingers Mikey Johnston and James Forrest returning to the starting line-up.

County turn to an old timer to beef up their midfield, with 36-year-old Don Cowie making first appearance of the season after a long time out with injury.

The former Scotland man replaces Billy McKay as County go with the majority of the team that drew 0-0 with Hearts on Wednesday. That means new signing Oli Shaw again starts on the bench.

Stephen Robinson makes two changes to his Motherwell side that beat Aberdeen away during the week, with 20-year-old Ross MacIver making his first start. He takes over from striker Chris Long, who misses out through injury, while Christian Ilic replaces Mark O’Hara, who drops to the bench.

Hibernian’s Stephane Omeonga makes his first start since returning to the club. He was a second-half substitute in the 2-1 comeback win against Hamilton, along with Daryl Horgan and Joe Newell, who also start this afternoon. Tom James comes in from the cold to replace captain David Gray - out with a bug.

Playmaker Scott Allan is among those dropping out. He must be content with a place on the bench.

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