Hibs are halfway through a 1,240-mile slog of six successive away games which has already taken them to the Highlands twice.

This assignment at Rugby Park will be followed by a Scottish Cup semi-final showdown with neighbours Hearts - at an empty Hampden.

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Then it's a trip to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen, who they will hope to leapfrog back into third place this afternoon.

Jack Ross's side have lost just once on their travels so far this term, at champions Celtic.

Neil McCann
Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson elects not to include Guy Melamed in his squad after he completed his 14-day quarantine period.

Davidson makes just one change from the 5-3 win over Hamilton Accies: Ali McCann dropping to the bench with Craig Bryson replacing him.

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It's a first start for Marc McNulty, who made his debut as a substitute in last week's 0-0 draw with Aberdeen.

Dundee United make two changes from the New Firm derby: Peter Pawlett and Logan Chalmers are both out, so Dillon Powers is also promoted from the bench.

Celtic's Ryan Christie has urged a rethink of Covid-19 self-isolation rules for footballers after revealing he tested negative "five or six times".

The 25-year-old and Kieran Tierney had to quarantine for 14 days as they were deemed close contacts of Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong.

After missing three Scotland games and Celtic's defeat by Rangers, Christie returned to face AC Milan last Thursday.

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"It's nice to be back playing, finally," he said.

"It was a very frustrating two weeks to sit and watch games you feel you should be part of.

"I was tested five or six times and every one came back negative. I know there's a bedding-in period for the virus, but you need to wonder when it goes past common sense after countless negative tests.

"Maybe it's a rule that could be looked at. I get in normal walks of life that people come into contact and aren't getting tested and aren't in a controlled environment like we are."

Motherwell have not played a competitive match this month after their past two Scottish Premiership matches were postponed due to opponents' Kilmarnock and St Mirren's Covid-19 issues.

Stephen Robinson makes four changes to the team that lost 5-1 to Rangers on 27 September.

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Nathan McGinley, Barry Maguire, Devante Cole and Christopher Long start, Callum Lang drops to the bench and Bevis Mugabi, Ricki Lamie and Liam Grimshaw miss out.

Ross County make two changes following last week's goal-less draw with Hibernian with Tom Grivosti and Josh Reid coming in for Keith Watson and Connor Randall, neither of whom are on the bench.

Kilmarnock stick with the same XI that started in last weekend's 3-1 win at Livingston.

Youssouf Mulumbu has had a couple of five minute outings since his return to Rugby Park but the veteran midfielder must bide his time among the replacements again today.

Hibs make one change from a frustrating goalless draw at Ross County, with Stevie Mallan making his first league start of the season.

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Kyle Magennis, making his way back from a long-term knee injury, drops to the bench, where he is joined by Josh Doig, who is free from isolation after the Scotland U19 Covid mess.

Jamie Murphy remains absent after picking up a hamstring injury on League Cup duty a few weeks back.

Tyrone Smith
BBC at McDiarmid Park

Just two points separate ninth-placed St Johnstone and Dundee United [in sixth spot] going in to this afternoon’s Tayside Derby in Perth – so don’t be surprised if that is reflected by a pretty tight encounter at McDiarmid Park.

Saints will be hoping that is not the case as they look to continue their remarkable recent scoring form.

In all competitions, Callum Davidson’s side have rattled in 14 goals in their last three games, five of them have been dispatched by a rejuvenated Stevie May.

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That would suggest the United defence could have their hands full.

But Micky Mellon will be confident they can handle anything the hosts throw at them, having watched his side stand firm against an in-form Aberdeen last time.

And with deadline day signing Marc McNulty available and now adding to his striking options, Mellon will be hoping they can cause their hosts plenty of problems.

Motherwell: Carson, O'Donnell, Gallagher, McGinley, Maguire, O'Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Cole, Long, Watt.

Substitutes: Chapman, Devine, Crawford, Lang, White, Cornelius, Johnston, Hussain, Hastie.

Ross County: Doohan, Iacovitti, Donaldson, Grivosti, Reid, Paton, Charles-Cook, Lakin, Vigurs, Gardyne, Stewart.

Tremarco, Shaw, Mckay, O'Connor, Hylton, Kelly, Tillson, Williamson, Laidlaw.

Kilmarnock: Rogers, Rossi, Dikamona, Broadfoot, Waters, Power, Dicker, Tshibola, KIltie, Burke, Kabamba.

Substitutes: Doyle, Millen, Haunstrup, Brindley, McKenzie, Mulumbu, Pinnock, Whitehall, Brophy.

Hibernian: Marciano, P. McGinn, Hanlon, Porteous, Stevenson, Boyle, Gogic, Mallan, Newell, Nisbet, Doidge.

Substitutes: Barnes, Gray, McGregor, Doig, Magennis, Hallberg, S. McGinn, Gullan, Bradley.

How do you see this afternoon's three Premiership games going? Or is your focus on the Championship or Leagues One and Two?

Tweet us @bbcsportscot and we'll use your comments in our live.

St Johnstone: Clark, Kerr, McCart, Gordon, Tanser, McNamara, Davidson, Bryson, Conway, Wotherspoon, May

Substitutes: Parish, Rooney, Booth, Craig, McCann, Hendry, Kane, O'Halloran

Dundee United: Siegrist, Powers, Connolly, Reynolds, Bolton, Harkes, Edwards, Robson, Clark, McNulty, Shankland

Substitutes: Deniz, L.Smith, McMullan, King, Fotheringham, Appere, Neilson, Watson, Hutchison

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed earlier this month that the board has "broadly unlimited" powers to impose sanctions, including a forfeit, should Kilmarnock be found guilty.

Celtic and Aberdeen were each fined £30,000 by the SPFL after players from both sides flouted coronavirus protocols earlier in the season.

What happens next? We'll have to wait and see...

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Kilmarnock are gearing up for this afternoon's visit of Hibernian. However, off the pitch, the SPFL has charged Kilmarnock with allegedly breaching Covid-19 protocols.

It centres on their postponed league match against Motherwell on 3 October, which was called off when an outbreak forced the entire Kilmarnock squad to self-isolate.

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After an investigation, the SPFL has opened disciplinary proceedings and the club will "defend our position fully".

An SPFL board sub-committee with an independent chair will hear the case.

St Mirren's Premiership match at home to Hamilton Academical was postponed after the hosts' latest positive Covid-19 tests.

The Buddies had informed the SPFL they could not fulfil the fixture as they have only 11 registered fit players available.

The game was postponed pending investigation by the league body.

St Mirren already face an SPFL probe after last Saturday's game against Motherwell was also called off.

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