The first opportunity for St Mirren as they earn a free-kick on the touchline.

However, the usually accurate Scott Tanser sends his deep cross wastefully wide of the far post.

First threat comes from Well as Kevin van Veen heads the free-kick across the face of goal, but there is no team-mate there to take advantage.

Only four minutes in and Australian defender Ryan Strain is booked for pulling down Kevin van Veen after being spun by the Dutch striker.

It's been a cagey start, with the ball spending a lot of time in the air - and wayward passes ending in the stands.

Motherwell get the game under way in their new claret-dominated kit.

St Mirren in their traditional black and white stripes.

The teams are out at a sun-kissed Paisley.

As we near kick-off, who of today's protagonists will follow Rangers, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian, who earned opening-day wins on Saturday?

Or will there be another stalemate like Kilmarnock's draw with Dundee United?

Motherwell's caretaker manager Steven Hammell says he had to cut short a holiday to take the reins and is urging the players bounce back from a double whammy after their European exit was followed by boss Graham Alexander leaving.

"The last 48 hours have been a lot," Hammell tells BBC Scotland Sportsound. "I have tried to get information on board to the players when I can.

"Friday afternoon [is when I got the call to take the team]. I was on holiday, so I didn't expect it.

"The academy games were cancelled this weekend, so I managed to get away for a few days - it was the first day off I have had in about four years and, sure enough, I got the call, so I had to get myself back here.

"It's a difficult one to know what went wrong. I think the confidence has gone a little bit with the results this year, but we need to learn from it and put it behind us."

Image source, SNS

Asked about St Mirren's poor League Cup campaign, manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "We went five unbeaten at the end of last season.

"It was a disappointment to go out of the League Cup, we should've beat the teams we were playing with or without a squad fully assembled - we didn't.

"But now we have a squad ready for the start of the league season, which was always our aim. I believe we have put together a good squad, we were able to change 30% of the squad, inherited another 70% and we feel now we are playing at a level which suits everybody and we will reap the rewards in the coming weeks."

He also reveals he is a close friend of exited Motherwell boss Graham Alexander.

"He is a very good manager and he will be back in the game very soon," he adds.

Celtic are unbeaten in their last 17 meetings with Aberdeen in all competitions, winning 14 of those.

Not only that, but in kicking off a league campaign at home, the Glasgow side have only lost twice in 62 outings - both by Greenock Morton - and drawn seven of them.

A big task for Aberdeen. Will Celtic prevail? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for a Dons surprise.

Stephen Robinson insists he is "totally committed" to St Mirren amid newspaper reports linking him with a return to Motherwell as Graham Alexander's successor.

"There is no truth in it whatsoever," former Fir Park manager Robinson tells BBC Scotland Sportsound.

"There has been absolutely zero contact and it is a load of nonsense.

"It's amazing how people can put something in writing and it grows arms and legs and people believe it.

"I am at St Mirren and I am still committed to it. We are trying to get this club in to the top six for the first time in over 25 years - that is the reality.

"I can categorically tell you I am at St Mirren and I am totally committed to St Mirren."

Image source, sns

Motherwell are unbeaten in their latest six meetings with St Mirren, although four of those were draws.

The Buddies' last Premiership win at home to Motherwell came back in May 2015 under Gary Teal.

Thumbs up if you think St Mirren will end that run. Thumbs down for a Well win.

Interim Motherwell boss Steven Hammell makes three changes for his first game in charge following Graham Alexander's departure.

Sondre Solholm is preferred to Bevis Mugabi at centre-back, while Sean Goss gets the nod in midfield, with Ross Tierney making way.

Connor Shields - a half-time substitute in Thursday's defeat by Sligo Rovers, which sealed Motherwell's Europa Conference exit - starts in attack in place of Callum Slattery.

Steven Thompson
Former St Mirren striker on BBC Sportsound

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson returns from a knee injury to make his Premiership debut for St Mirren against his former club.

The Northern Irishman, signed from Dundee United this summer, replaces Peter Urminsky, while Scott Tanser comes in at full-back and Alex Greive starts up front.

Also dropping out from the 3-1 win over FC Edinburgh in St Mirren's failed League Cup campaign are defender Richard Tait and striker Kieran Offord.

Strikers Curtis Main and Eamonn Brophy make the bench for the first time this season after fitness issues.

Image source, SNS

An interesting factoid amid the Stephen Robinson link with a return to Motherwell.

The Northern Irishman had 36.5% win rate while in charge at Fir Park. And how does that compare to the departed Graham Alexander?

Well, the former Scotland defender was at 43.75% by the time of Friday's exit. True, Robinson was in charge for 137 games and Alexander for only 32.

Motherwell fans - would you want Robinson back? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

Image source, SNS

That Motherwell line-up is the first chosen by academy director Steven Hammell, who has taken temporary charge following the departure of Graham Alexander and assistant manager Chris Lucketti.

The 40-year-old is a bit of a Fir Park legend over two spells as a full-back before heading into coaching.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren: Carson, Tanser, Dunne, Gallagher, Shaughnessy, Strain, Erhahon, Baccus, O'Hara, Greive, Ayunga.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Tait, Fraser, Reid, Flynn, Henderson, Offord, Brophy, Main.

Motherwell: Kelly; McGinn, Solholm, Lamie, Carroll; Maguire, Goss, Spittal; Morris, Shields, Van Veen.

Substitutes: Fox, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Efford, Cornelius, Tierney, Mahon, Speirs, Ferrie.