The teams are out and raring to go.

Send it on.

Of course, the Old Firm defeat at the end of December was always going to be a blow to Rangers' title hopes.

But their excellent form under Philippe Clement means they're far from out the race - as long as they make their games in hand count.

They have the opportunity to do just that tonight in one of two opportunities to narrow the distance from leaders Celtic.

We all know the animosity between Hibs and Rangers, though. That Easter Road crowd would love to present another obstacle in Rangers' road to the summit.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

After all the storms of late, it is a perfect night for football in Perth.

Crisp, and not even the faintest of gusts of wind.

Lets hope the game can match the weather.

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Hibs have had their ups and down since Nick Montgomery came on board, but the manager is now being given the opportunity to make his own signings.

They've got added attacking impetus with the new bodies in the door, and Myziane Maolida has the chance to impress from the off.

With just one win in their last five Premiership outings before the break, they could use a boost in they're to stay in the top half of the table.

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They're filming a ceilidh programme downstairs in the office, so if the live text goes quiet, be safe in the knowledge I've nipped away for a quick dashing white sargeant.

Sounds like they're having a class time down there.

Here's a wee bit more on one of those new signings.

Hibs fans will be bothered about what Emiliano Marcondes produces on the park when he does make his debut, but it seems they're getting an interesting character off it too.

Hit the big play button below to get some insight from The Athletic's Jordan Campbell, who told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast all about the Bournemouth loanee.

You should subscribe to that show btw. Daily dose of all the latest news and analysis in just 20 minutes. Magic.

Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery says "it's been a busy week" on the transfer front.

On Luke Amos: "Luke is a top player. He'd been training with Tottenham. He gives us real quality on the bench tonight."

On Emiliano Marcondes: "Top quality player. We fought off a lot of clubs to bring him in. It might take a couple of weeks to get him up to full speed."

Montgomery confirms Paul Hanlin is missing through illness.

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Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

It's been so unpredictable for Aberdeen. When they're on form, they're a very good team.

The change of formation seems to have helped Barry Robson.

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St Johnstone's rotten run in the Scottish Cup continued as the weekend, as Championship Airdrie became the latest lower league side to dump out the competition's 2020 winners.

The initial bounce the Saints found after Craig Levein's appointment seems to have stuttered a bit in recent outings.

Their best results under the veteran gaffer have come in the home comforts of McDiarmid Park, and a win this evening would put them a decent distance away from the relegation places.

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Aberdeen fans probably feel like they've lived a thousand lives already this campaign.

European adventures. The Viaplay Cup final. A lacklustre league campaign. It's been quite the rollercoaster.

Their schedule will be similarly packed considering their plentiful games in hand, but Barry Robson's side need to find greater consistency if they're to have any chance of returning to the continent next term.

They've won both of their games so far in 2024, having switched to a back four. Robson says it's less about systems and more about "principles". Dons fans won't care a jot as long as they kick into gear.

The reverse fixture marked an impressive start to life in Govan for Philippe Clement.

Rangers ran out 4-0 winners in the Belgian's first game in charge, as as goals from Nicolas Raskin, Cyriel Dessers and an Abdallah Sima brace gave Ibrox plenty to shout about in front of their new manager.

It goes without saying that Nick Montgomery will be looking for more stability as he's out to avenge his first loss as Hibs boss.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

More from Rangers manager Philippe Clement on striker Abdallah Sima, who faces up to three months out.

"He had his operation and everything went well," he tells BBC Scotland.

"It is what it is, we need to take it. He needs to take it also and he has taken it in a good way. We’re now looking forward.

"He’s someone who works hard, he will be back in shape for the end of the season."

If this evening's fixtures are half as good as the drama we got last night, we're in for a good'un.

Check out the best of the thriller below as Hearts roared back from two goals down to defeat Dundee as Tynecastle turned from toxic to triumphant.

Some way to mark the return of the Premiership. More of the same tonight please, troops.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

While the game between Hibs v Rangers at Easter Road may top the bill tonight, the one here in Perth is just as important.

In terms of the home side, first and foremost they will be looking to bounce back after a hugely disappointing Scottish Cup defeat at Championship Airdrieonians last time out.

Craig Levein’s team are on a disappointing run of just one win in their last five league games, and if you broaden the stats out slightly they are four matches without a win in all competitions, and they have scored just the one goal in those games.

Saints remain in a very precarious position in the Premiership table. They are just one point above second bottom Ross County having played a game more after tonight they will have played two games more than County, so you start to see the importance of the Perth men getting something from the game tonight.

As for eigth-placed Aberdeen, they are playing catch up in terms of matches played on the teams above them, much has been made of the games in hand the Dons have currently got.

But those games in hand count for nothing if you don’t pick up the points, so tonight represents an opportunity to do just that.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein explains why he has made five changes to his side.

"I've shifted things around a little bit," he tells BBC Scotland.

"After Saturday I felt we needed to shake things up. That's exactly what I'm looking for.

"The Airdrie game was most unlike the team so I'm very hopeful we can get back to what we did prior to Saturday.

"I'm confident and hopeful we will get a response. The players recognise they didn't perform at the level they were required to on Saturday. There's been an upping of the tempo in training."

Levein says Nicky Clark had an issue with his groin on Saturday and that's why he has been left out of the squad, but it's not expected to be a long-term issue.

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Aberdeen manager Barry Robson tells BBC Scotland: "It's five games out of seven we've won with a couple of blips in there. We're trying to get consistency as much as we can.

"They've performed well the last couple of games but we can change at any time. We've got good players on the bench.

What we want is a good performance because that gives us the best chance of a good result.

"We're focussing on trying to win this game and we'll focus on what's to come after that."

Image source, SNS/BBC

• St. Johnstone have failed to win any of their last four Scottish Premiership matches against Aberdeen (D1 L3) since a 1-0 win in May 2022. Saints haven’t scored 2+ goals in a league match against Aberdeen since December 2018, drawing a blank in each of their last four against the Dons.

• Aberdeen have won on four of their last five away visits to McDiarmid Park (L1), with all of the last five such matches ending in a 1-0 scoreline (four to Aberdeen, one to St. Johnstone).

• St. Johnstone have lost just one of their five home league matches under Craig Levein (W3 D1) since his appointment, winning three of their last four (L1) – keeping a clean sheet in all three of those victories.

• Aberdeen have won three of their last six Scottish Premiership away games (L3), as many victories as across their previous 16 league games on the road (D2 L11); the Dons could win back-to-back away games for the first time since April 2023 when they won three in a row, including against St. Johnstone and Ross County, who they beat 3-0 last time out.

• Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski has been involved in five goals in his last four Scottish Premiership matches (4 goals 1 assist) and overall he is averaging a goal contribution every 139 minutes in the competition this season – nine goals and two assists in 1526 minutes.

We wouldn't leave out the stats boffins of a St Johnstone and Aberdeen persuasion. Incoming!

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• Hibernian are winless in their last 11 home league games against Rangers (D5 L6), with their last home victory against them coming in the Scottish Championship in the 2015/16 season under Alan Stubbs.

• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 20 Scottish Premiership matches against Hibernian (W14 D6), winning 10 of their last 11 matches (D1).

• Hibernian have failed to win any of their last three league matches (D1 L2) and should they fail to win vs Rangers, it would already be the second time this season that they have put together a 4+ match winless streak, only doing so on three separate occasions in the whole of last season.

• Defeat to Celtic last time out on the road put an end to an eight-match unbeaten run away from home for Rangers (W7 D1); they haven’t lost back-to-back away matches since last season, losing to Celtic and Aberdeen in April 2023.

• Since Phillipe Clement’s arrival at Ibrox, Rangers have lost the fewest matches (1), conceded the fewest goals (6) and won the joint-most matches (10 – level with Celtic). Across all competitions, Clement has won 14 of his 18 games in charge of Rangers (D3 L1), winning the Scottish League Cup and guiding the Gers into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.

Let's take a deek at some of the stats heading into this huge game at Easter Road.

Hibees, it doesn't make for pretty reading...