These two are locked on 36 points and the last four meetings in Paisley have finished all square, with each of the last three goalless.

United are also without a win in their last 10 away league games (D5 L5), scoring just six goals, so don't expect a high-scoring thriller.

St Mirren's Connor Ronan looks the best bet to break the deadlock, with five goals in his past nine matches, including an absolute screamer in last weekend's Scottish Cup loss to Hearts.

It looks like Aberdeen are going to have to win two of their next three games to have any chance of getting into the top six.

However, the Dons haven't managed a single league victory in 2022, drawing five and losing five.

Jim Goodwin started with a Scottish Cup defeat at Motherwell and the new boss will be anxious to get a first win on the board after six attempts.

Considering his side have yet to reach the halfway stage, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou setting his sights on breaking Brendan Rodgers' run of 69 domestic games unbeaten may seem a tad ambitious.

However, their 30-game streak is certainly indicative of the task facing Ross County this afternoon. The only sides to have beaten the Australian's side during that time are Bayer Leverkusen and Bodo/Glimt, both twice in European competition.

Indeed, the Premiership leaders haven't lost to a Scottish side on their own turf since St Mirren in January 2021.

Malky Mackay's side do, though, arrive with plenty of confidence after three consecutive wins, and only one defeat in eight outings, lifted them up to sixth spot.

Hearts have recovered from a February dip which saw them lose three league games on the trot and the Tynecastle side are strolling to third place, with the congested pack behind completely unable to make up any ground.

Barrie McKay has yet to score in his debut season for the Jambos but sits second on the Scottish Premiership assists table, with eight.

Only Rangers captain James Tavernier has more (11).

Livingston ran Hearts close in the Scottish Cup last month, going out on penalties in Gorgie, but they haven't won at Tynecastle since 2002 (D5 L5).

St Johnstone had a bounce in February, winning twice and drawing twice from six Premiership outings, but the Perth side have gathered just one point from three games this month.

This looks like a game where they really need something and it's followed by another home fixture - against Livingston.

Saints have only won one of their last 11 home league fixtures (D4 L6), which explains why they are in a dogfight with Dundee to avoid the drop, but Motherwell's form has fallen off a cliff of late, with no league wins since Boxing Day (D5 L5).

And the Steelmen have won just twice in their last 15 league visits to McDiarmid Park. (D4 L9).

Celtic have won both encounters with County this season, including a 3-0 romp on the Dingwall side's last visit in September.

However, the Highlanders only need to look back to last season for notable victories over the Glasgow outfit.

County prevailed 2-1 at home last February, while they achieved their one and only win at Celtic Park, by 2-0, in a League Cup tie in November 2020.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie Stadium

A strange old season in the Premiership is encapsulated by this Pittodrie encounter.

The two sides have endured some pretty miserable league form, yet Hibs find themselves heading north in fourth, while the Dons are way down in 10th yet just five points behind the visitors.

Aberdeen know they can ill afford any more slip-ups as they look to salvage something from a disappointing campaign by sneaking their way into the top six.

Hibs also have work to do in order to cement their top-half spot and will be hoping their recent progress through to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup can help provide some added impetus in to their league campaign.

St Mirren picked up two injuries against Hearts and they both miss out today.

Jordan Jones misses out with a shoulder injury, which could keep him out for a few weeks, whilst Scott Tanser also came off at Tynecastle. Marcus Fraser is back in for only his second start under Stephen Robinson, with Jay Henderson also returning to the starting line-up.

Tam Courts starts 17-year-old Miller Thomson for the first time, with Charlie Mulgrew, Tony Watt, and Scott McMann named in the starting eleven.

Ross Graham, Nicky Clark and Kieran Freeman all drop to the bench, with Ian Harkes out completely after picking coming off injured against Celtic last weekend.

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It's been two weeks since Aberdeen's last match and the big news for them is actually on the bench with long-term absentees Andy Considine and Marley Watkins listed as substitutes.

In the starting line-up, manager Jim Goodwin makes just one change from that rather defensive display in the defeat at Rangers as Calvin Ramsey replaces Funso Ojo, who is not in the squad.

Hibernian also have a big name back, with captain Paul Hanlon available as a substitute after a long absence.

Shaun Maloney makes two changes to his XI with Kevin Dabrowski replacing the injured Matt Macey in goal and defender Rocky Bushiri is back from suspension as midfielder Ewan Henderson make way.

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Shaun Rooney returns to the St Johnstone squad for the first time since mid-December as he starts this afternoon for Calum Davidson's side, in place of the injured Tom Sang.

Murray Davidson and Nadir Ciftci also come into the starting XI in place of Cameron MacPherson and Glenn Middleton.

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Graham Alexander also makes three changes as Stephen O'Donnell returns to the Motherwell starting line-up in the same week he was called up to the Scotland squad, with Jake Carroll and Connor Shields also in from the off.

The suspended Bevis Mugabi drops out, along with Jordan Roberts and Nathan McGinley.

Hearts make one change from the 4-2 Scottish Cup quarter-final win over St Mirren, as they bid to dent Livingston's hopes of reaching Europe.

Midfielder Aaron McEneff starts in place of Liverpool-loanee Ben Woodburn.

Livingston also make one change from the 3-1 loss to Celtic just under two weeks ago.

Attacking midfielder Odin Bailey replaces Andrew Shinnie in the starting line-up. Aston Villa forward Caleb Chukwuemeka, who has made three substitute appearances so far, is back in the squad on the bench with Craig Sibbald missing out.

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Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou makes two changes from the side that beat Dundee United 3-0 last time out in the Scottish Cup, with Tom Rogic replacing Matt O'Riley in central midfield and on-loan Benfica man Jota on the wing in place of the injured James Forrest.

The latter's Scotland colleague, David Turnbull, who has been sidelined through injury since December, makes his return to the squad on the bench.

Malky Mackay sticks with the side that beat St Mirren 1-0, with midfielder David Cancola and defender Keith Watson among the replacements after their returns from injury.

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Spring has sprung it would seem, with Pittodrie one of many Scottish grounds blessed with some welcome sunshine this afternoon.

Perfect conditions for a game, although goalie's may need to keep a cap handy.

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Three of the top five in the fourth tier are all away from home but will fancy their chances of victory against struggling hosts.

Runaway leaders Kelty Hearts are six unbeaten as they take on Elgin City, who have won once in eight.

Third-top Forfar Athletic visit an Albion Rovers side who have won once in 10, while Stenhousemuir can overtake fourth-top Edinburgh City, who lost at home to Stranraer last night, if they consign bottom side Cowdenbeath to a seventh straight defeat.

Second-placed Annan Athletic have it more difficult, visiting a Stirling Albion team who have revived their own promotion hopes with two consecutive wins.

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The top four all play one another in the third tier, with leaders Cove Rangers, now unbeaten in 19 league games, visiting third-top Montrose.

Meanwhile, second-placed Airdrieonians, themselves unbeaten in eight, host a still-managerless Queen's Park who have only lost once in 11.

Bottom side East Fife, who have only lost once in seven outings, hope to continue their improvement away to a Clyde team without a win in six, while second-bottom Dumbarton will aim to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat at home to Falkirk.

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Dunfermline Athletic remain bottom of the second tier behind Queen of the South on goal difference after last night's 1-1 draw at home to Greenock Morton, but the Dumfries side have it tough this afternoon as they visit leaders Kilmarnock.

Following last weekend's derby defeat, Ayr United visit second-top Arbroath, while third-placed Partick Thistle host third-bottom Hamilton Academical.

Raith Rovers entertain Inverness Caledonian Thistle as both sides look to build on wins that ended their recent poor league runs and stay in touch with the top three.

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St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Tait, Power, Gogic, Henderson, Ronan, Kiltie, Brophy.

Substitutes: Lyness, McCarthy, Erhahon, Flynn, Main, Greive.

Dundee United: Siegrist, Smith, Edwards, Mulgrew, McMann, Butcher, Levitt, Thomson, Niskanen, McNulty, Watt.

Substitutes: Eriksson, Sporle, McDonald, Clark, Meekison, Neilson, Freeman, Mochrie, Graham.

St Johnstone: Clark, Gordon, McCart, Cleary, Gallacher, Rooney, Davidson, Hallberg, Crawford, Hendry, Ciftci.

Substitutes: Parish, Brown, Mahon, Booth, Buttterfield, Gilmour, May, Middleton, Bair.

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Solholm, Ojala, Lamie, Carrol, Cornelius, Donnelly, Efford, Van Veen, Shields.

Substitutes: Fox, Woolery, Shaw, Slattery, Amaluzor, Grimshaw, Tierney, Goss, Nirennold.

Celtic: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, Rogic, Jota, Maeda, Giakoumakis.

Substitutes: Bain, Bitton, Abada, Turnbull, McCarthy, Johnston, Ideguchi, O'Riley, Ralston.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Baldwin, H Paton, Iacovitti, Ramsay, Tillson, Callachan, Charles-Cook, Hungbo, White.

Substitutes: Vokins, Cancola, Spittal, D Samuel, Watson, Burroughs, Drysdale, B Paton, Munro.

Heart of Midlothian: Gordon, Atkinson, Halkett, Haring, Kingsley, Baningime, McEneff, Halliday, McKay, Simms, Boyce.

Substitutes: Stewart, Woodburn, Moore, Cochrane, Sibbick, Ginnelly, Tait.

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Penrice, Holt, Omeonga, Pittman, Forrest, Bailey, Nouble.

Substitutes: Konovalov, Boyes, Longridge, Kelly, Lewis, Montano, Shinnie, Chukwuemeka, Soto.