And now County pile forward with a goalmouth scramble.

It's former Killie striker Eamonn Borphy whose eyes light up, the hosts just about have enough bodies back to get rid.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

The last time Ross County won an away game, it was Saturday, 2 September 2023. It was also against Kilmarnock. Some hope to cling on to this afternoon, then for Don Cowie’s Staggies as they strive for Premiership safety, and they certainly will need to cling on to that hope tightly because it’s seriously windy here in Ayrshire.

Trying to keep fourth place in the Premiership is a nice problem for Derek McInnes and Kilmarnock to have, especially since this time two years ago they were in the Championship and this time last year they were close to the top flight’s trap door. Killie have only lost two of their past 10 league games and both of those defeats were at the hands of Rangers.

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Some very early pressure from the home side in Leith, St Johnstone have hardly had a touch of the ball.

Kilmarnock so close to an early lead.

A brilliant ball to the back stick finds Matty Kennedy, who sidefoots a volley towards goal.

It cracks off the post and Ross County hastily clear their lines.

A confident start for the Dons at the Tony Mac as Jamie McGrath looks to slide in Bojan Miovski.

Just too much on it.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA stadium

I'm reliably informed the last few remaining tickets were snapped up within the last hour or so and that the SMISA stadium will be completely sold out for St Mirren's last home game before the split.

Should be a cracker, although Storm Kathleen is doing her best to blow that hope to bits. Win the game and Buddies are solid in the top six for a second consecutive season - the first time that's happened in nearly 40 years.

If Hibs drop any points, that'll do it too for S tMirren, who won't want to go to Celtic Park next week needing points.

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Here we go again...

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "We trained on Monday and Tuesday with eight to nine players. We're sitting at seven injured first-team players.

"It's not been ideal but it is what it is. My positivity won't change, that's important, but there's a dose of realism in there also.

"I've got to show the boys leadership and hopefully we can get three points today."

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "It [the top six] is in our hands, it will still be in our hands next week.

"What we've done is we've said there's three points in this game this week, ultimately to get to Europe you need to get those three points.

"I've taken the pressure off the boys this week - they're a brilliant group of boys and they've got to go play their game."

Hearts manager Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland: "[Lawrence Shankland] was ill during the night, Beni Baningime yesterday and then Shanks last night.

"It's just one of those things. But we get on with it, we've got a good squad, you can see the quality within the squad that we've got in the team. So, I fully expect us to put on a performance better than we have done when we've been here in the past.

"That's the thing here, chances you need to work hard to get them. I feel we've got enough players on the pitch who can do that and on the opposite side you need to defend well."

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie says his side can take confidence from being one of the few sides to have won at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership this season.

"You've got to take belief from it," he told BBC Scotland. "It was a long time ago. Kilmarnock have made this a tough place for majority teams to come to.

"We have to perform really well if we want to get a positive result today.

"As a group, we look at each game individually. I just felt with the surface here and the manner Kilmarnock play, it's about us stamping our authority on the game. I thought having the three strikers could aide that today.

"We're in a position we don't want to be in but the performance levels since I've came in have been very consistent points. We've picked up a decent amount of points but we'd like more."

St Johnstone boss Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: "Liam Gordon had a slight groin issue yesterday and he is just not 100%. The risk of putting him out, taking a chance and the whole thing becoming worse, we've decided to leave him out.

"Hibs are aiming for the top six, they have had a reasonable season, they have brought some good players in and it will be a difficult match for us.

"Last time we played them we put on a good performance and managed to win. Our intention will be trying to do the same again today.

"I think it's very difficult to shut Hibs down completely but we need to be good defensively."

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Hibs boss Nick Montgomery tells BBC Scotland: "Every game is important and no more so than the next game.

"What's important is that we stay calm, keep the momentum going that we've had and we put in a good performance today because we can only control ourselves.

"When you play for Hibs you are going to feel expectation. I told every player that came in in January that we see this club as being in the top six but you have to earn the right to be there. We have to get maximum points in the next two games and that's all we can control.

"The fans come here every week looking for a victory and that is the expectation we have. It is really important that we have a good support today and the players really do relish the fans here.

"We always give respect to the opposition but we've prepared well and are looking for a good result."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Easter Road

The importance of this game for both teams has not been lost on the respective managers of Hibernian and St Johnstone. Nick Montgomery is now seeking two wins from their remaining two matches to give them a real opportunity of a top-six spot.

Craig Levein says he can only control what happens on the pitch for Saints and will only look at results elsewhere after the game. Both sets of fans will have nerves through this game, I suspect.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "The season doesn't stop now, we've got work to do. We know the rewards for finishing fourth.

"It'd be nice to think we can kick back. I'm determined to enjoy the last part of the season, this time last year there was a lot of anxiety.

"It's important to maintain our motivation levels. If we can get the results we want, there's hopefully a European place there for us.

"Marley's [Watkins] probably not had a season where he's had this many goals. He's always been a support player, we asked him to be a bit more single minded this year. I think he feels important, like you want your strikers to feel.

"You have to deal with the conditions, it's not perfect - the wind. Wind challenges you and forces you to concentrate. It's just a pity we're still talking about 60 miles per hour wind in April."

Falkirk have already secured the Scottish League 1 title and promotion, while Hamilton Academical have secured a promotion play-off place and Edinburgh City's relegation has been confirmed.

In League 2, leaders Stenhousemuir are assured at least a play-off place and can secure the title and promotion today if they beat East Fife, if they draw and Peterhead fail to win or if they lose, Peterhead lose and Dumbarton and Spartans both fail to win.

• Annan Athletic v Hamilton Academical
• Edinburgh City v Montrose
• Queen of the South v Dundee United
• Stirling Albion v Alloa Athletic
• Falkirk v Cove Rangers (17:30)

• Bonnyrigg Rose v Peterhead
• Clyde v Stranraer
• Elgin City v Spartans
• Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton
• Stenhousemuir v East Fife

In the Scottish Championship, leaders Dundee United and Raith Rovers are both assured at least a promotion play-off place. Partick Thistle are well on their way to joining them but cannot confirm anything today.

Arbroath will finish no higher than ninth and thus face a relegation play-off at best if they lose to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, if they draw and Queen's Park avoid defeat or if they win and Queen's Park win and Ayr United avoid defeat.

Dundee boss Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "I've brought in Jordan McGhee, he's ready to come back in and he's been great for me. It shouldn't [upset things] and I feel with us being at home it gives Dara [Costelloe] on the other side a more offensive role.

"Our home record has been excellent, we're unbeaten in 10 home games - the only teams to beat us at home are Rangers, Celtic, Hibs and Hearts - so of course we want the game on.

"We train on Astroturf because the rain has been torrential all week. For the ground staff and helpers to get the game on, they deserve a lot of credit.

"Saturday at 3 o'clock is when the game should be played. We want to keep the routine as much as we can so I'm delighted the game is on today."

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