Angus Macdonald has looked solid for Aberdeen and he recovers well to make a tackle after Marley Watkins was played in behind the Dons defence.

Kilmarnock have grown into this game.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Very encouraging opening from St Mirren. They've had all of the ball in the opening fifteen minutes, which has been pretty much played in the St Johnstone half. No chances created yet though...

Decent chance there for Oh's second as he meets the ball at the near post.

His connection on the header is really strong, but it flies well wide.

And now the action is under way at Tynecastle.

Greg Taylor gets himself forward and lines one up, but Will Fish gets his body in the way as Hibs eventually boot it away.

It's one of the rare times they've gone long in these opening stages. The under the cosh visitors, very much still sticking to Nick Montgomery's build-from-the-back principles.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

After that earlier knock to the head, he's not recovered. St Johnstone midfielder Max Kucheriavyi is subbed off after just nine minutes, replaced by Sven Sprangler.

Aberdeen give the ball away and Kilmarnock work an opening for Kyle Vassell, but he slips as he takes a shot from inside the box and it goes harmlessly wide.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Tynecastle

There is a huge sense of anticipation and excitement from both sets of fans here. For Hearts, the return to the bench of Halkett, Mckay and club captain Craig Gordon is a massive boost ahead of the busy run of fixtures.

For Rangers, they will be looking to maintain the unbeaten 10-match run under Philippe Clement. The injury for Borna Barasic allows Ridvan Yilmaz to stake a claim for a place in the upcoming League Cup final against Aberdeen, but its three points the visitors will be seeking against a rejuvenated Hearts side.

A great low ball from Nicky Devlin falls for Graeme Shinnie, whose low shot from just inside the box is well blocked by Kilmarnock.

Frantic start at Pittodrie.

Ouch!published at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 6 December 2023

19:51 GMT 6 December 2023

St Johnstone 0-0 St Mirren

Early stoppage in play as Scott Tanser and Max Kucheriavyi clash heads. It looks like the Ukrainian midfielder has come off slightly worse.

Thankfully both players are back to their feet and okay to continue.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement confirms Borna Barisic is missing with a "small muscle problem".

On the decision to switch his striker, he adds: "We have a lot of games. It's impossible to play the same players and I expect a lot of the offensive players. We need freshness to score goals."

And on his first 10 games in charge, he says: "A lot of things have changed already. To make a run of seven wins and three draws is a sign of consistency."

On the return of Hearts trio Craig Halkett, Craig Gordon and Barrie McKay, head coach Steven Naismith tells BBC Sportsound: "There's been a plan in place to make sure these players are ready for these matches coming up.

"It's about integrating them back in now. We've got a really competitive squad.

"They're big assets to the club. It gives us a boost."

Image source, SNS

A bit of mind games from Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes?

His team win the toss and switch ends, so Aberdeen will be playing towards the Merkland Stand in the second half, rather than their favoured Beach End.

And we're away at Celtic Park, Pittodrie and McDiarmid Park...

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "Lewis [Jamieson] has been knocking on the door for a while now. Conor [McMenamin] has played a lot of games and has a slight niggle, not one we're worried about but Lewis deserves a chance and it keeps Conor fresh.

"We've been training on astro the last few days and its aggravated Richard [Taylor]'s ankle. It's nothing serious, but we have good cover in Charles [Dunne]. We couldn't take a chance with it.

"We've got three games now where we feel we can get points. St Johnstone are very organised. They've always had very good players, but they weren't fit. Now they have a better squad to choose from.

"There were things we can improve on from the Rangers game, but we have a mindset where we pass the ball, move it quickly, press quickly. The small margins have gone against us in recent weeks but it doesn't retract from the fact we started well and we're a good side."

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: "It's going as I thought it would - the highs and lows are just the same.

"It's been really close and a lot of games have been decided by one goal. It's a weird season. You put two or three wins together and you can climb six places in the league. It's quite bizarre.

"We're coming off the back off two decent performances, although we didn't get any points. We were unlucky in the Hearts game - a deflected goal - and we played good stuff against Celtic. I'm confident progression is continuing that.

"We want to be in the top half but we have work to do to get there. The players have worked extremely hard and hopefully I can get a similar performance from them this evening, and hopefully things fall our way."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes gives an insight into the signing of Gary Mackay-Steven, who is on the bench tonight.

"Gary's a player we know very well and when he finished with Hearts in October he was looking for a place to train.

"He had some good base fitness but not much team work but we've intorduced him training and getting him moving.

"We've got him in on a short-term deal because we've got a heavy schedule through December and the club have supported us on that.

"Even a game like Saturday against Hearts where we were good but the quality of someone like Gary off the bench in the last part of a game [could a difference]."

Hibs boss Nick Montgomery tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a good run. We've had a lot of improvement over the time sine I joined the club.

"I'm under no illusions that tonight's going to be a difficult task against a very good team.

"We've got an identity now and the boys stick to that. It doesn't always work out, that's football.

"We'll come here full of confidence after the run we've been and give them a good go.

"You want to win every game. We're massive underdogs tonight but we limited them to a draw at Easter Road. I told the boys that if we do that again tonight, we have half a chance."

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson has rejected the suggestion Slobodan Rubezic has been taken out of the firing line after recent mistakes.

"No not at all, Angus [Macdonald] performed well in Helsinki and he's trained well. Ruby has played more games than most so we thought it was the right time to freshen it up there.

"It's always about getting points on the board. We want to do well, but it's never easy coming up a Derek McInnes team. We want to put in a performance like the Hibs game but convert it into a win."

Image source, SNS