Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "Today we've gone back to a 3-5-2, which worked really well against St Mirren six weeks ago. You know what you're getting with St Mirren, a real physical and aggressive team. I've put players in today that reflect that type of game. It's going to be a difficult game; neither team is coming into the game in great form.

"After Wednesday, obviously, everyone was a little bit flat, but the overall performance was excellent. We haven't been playing terribly; we've had five draws in our last eight games. It's really been small margins in a lot of those; we've had decisions go against us. I hope we're not talking about that at the end of the game.

"I think everyone would agree. As managers, players and supporters, we would all want the VAR process to be a bit quicker. I think there's too much looking for ways to disallow goals nowadays. I think if we're not sure within the first 30-60 seconds, then we should stick with the on-field decision."

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When asked about Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack's comments on VAR, Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "You're not getting decisions in 60 seconds. If you're using VAR you've got to take as long as it takes to get to the right decision, that's been the problem.

"So just miss that out and go straight to suspending it. If you did a poll within Scottish football, I'm not so sure there are many for it. I don't think it's helped the game, I would rather be talking about referees and officials making poor decisions in real time.

"We're going to make mistakes, we are making mistakes, but it's ones we shouldn't be making with the technology. I would take VAR out of the game today. I don't think it'll get better."

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "There's a real character still in the squad [after Wednesday night's 3-3 draw at Aberdeen].

"I've tried to play down the final, but subconsciously, this is once in a lifetime for some of the players, so it's difficult to play it down. But, we have to go in with a really good performance. But, if you ask me, I'd take a win over a good performance.

"I've made my feelings very clear on VAR, I've received my letter from the SFA to warn me about my comments, so the less I say, the better."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at SMISA Stadium

Stephen Robinson and his players can try with all their might to play down next Sunday's League Cup final with Celtic, but the Buddies faithful are already biting their fingernails.

Walking into the SMISA today, it's impossible to shift from the palpable excitement. It's on everyone's mind here, just as much as Brazil, Morocco and Haiti is for the rest of us.

If they could head into in on the back of a belting performance and result here - not asking too much - then this week coming will bring different level of giddiness.

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Rory Loy
Former Falkirk striker on BBC Sportsound

We can take steps to improve things but I don't think it [60 second limit] is a viable option.

While four or five minutes is excessive, we all want the right outcome.

They can definitely speed up the process of getting back to the referee to check the monitor. VAR are over-analysing things beforehand.

Stephen Craigan
Former Motherwell captain on BBC Sportsound

So many decisions are subjective. It's not black or white. There are always grey areas.

It takes more than one minute to understand the laws of the game. Lines have to be drawn for offside.

In England, the referee explains decisions to the crowd. If we had that, I think fans would be a lot more comfortable.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack reckons a 60-second limit should be put on VAR checks in Scottish football.

If a decision is not clear and obvious after a minute then the referee's on-field decision should stand, he argues.

Cormack also suggests a suspension of VAR should be on the table if standards don't improve.

What do you reckon?

For what it's worth, this comes from the IFAB protocol on VAR: "There is no time limit for the review process as accuracy is more important than speed".

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Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park

The table suggests a Motherwell win. Form does too. Their home record only adds to that and with seven changes Jens Berthel Askou is demonstrating he has full faith in his squad.

However, Livingston don't seem far away despite their lowly position. They need a break and one win may just get them going.

A tall, tall task given the consistency of their opponents.

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David Gray is forced into two changes, and they've both come in the same area of the pitch. Nicky Cadden came off injured against Celtic, while Jordan Obita was also withdrawn during the game.

They are replaced by Jack Iredale and Dan Barlaser, which hints at a potential change of shape.

Falkirk, meanwhile, make four changes from the midweek draw with Motherwell and bring back some key attackers.

Ethan Ross, Calvin Miller, and Ethan Williams come in with Brian Graham back up top. That's much closer to first-choice.

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Steven Pressley makes three changes to the side that narrowly lost to Celtic on Wednesday. Clark Robertson misses out after picking up a thigh injury, with Finlay Robertson and Imari Samuels dropping to the bench.

Ryan Astley, Billy Koumetio and Tony Yogane all come into the starting XI.

And it's two changes for the Dons after their dramatic 3-3 draw with St Mirren. Marko Lazetic starts after scoring twice off the bench in that game - he replaces Kevin Nisbet. Topi Keskinen makes way for Jesper Karlsson.

Stephen Robinson makes one change from Wednesday night's draw with Aberdeen. Scott Tanser makes way for Declan John in this afternoon's clash.

As for Dundee United, Jim Goodwin makes two alterations from the side that earned a point at home to Rangers. Craig Sibbald and Ross Graham return to the starting line-up in place of Panutche Camara and Amar Fatah.

More rotation from Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou as he makes seven changes to the side that started Wednesday's goalless draw at Falkirk.

The notable switches are the return of influential midfielder Elliot Watt and forward Elijah Just coming back into the XI, while centre-back Stephen Welsh is given a rest on the bench.

Livingston, who were not in action midweek, are unchanged after losing narrowly to Aberdeen last Sunday.

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St Johnstone and Partick Thistle are locked on 34 points at the top of the table.

The Perth side host Raith Rovers this afternoon, with the Jags away to Ayr United.

The bottom two, separated by one point, meet in Dingwall, as Airdrieonians go to Ross County.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

The last time Dundee and Aberdeen met – in early October – the Dons ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

After a wretched start to the campaign, that was the Dons’ first league win of the season and kickstarted things for Jimmy Thelin’s side, who have lost just once in eight games since then.

Dundee continue to struggle in terms of results, but there have been signs of encouragement of late.

They followed an impressive 3-1 home win over St Mirren, with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic last time out and Steven Pressley will be confident that improvement can continue.

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St Mirren: George, Fraser, Freckleton, Gogic, John, King, Taylor, Philips, McMenamin, Ayunga, Mandron.

Substitutes: Baccus, Dijksteel, Douglas, Idowu, Mooney, Mullen, N'Lundulu, Richardson, Tanser.

Dundee United: Richards, Graham, Iovu, Keresztes, Sevij, Strain, Ferry, Stephenson, Sibbald, Sapsford, Moller.

Substitutes: Adams, Beattie, Cleall-Harding, Dolcek, Esselink, Fatah, Stirton, Trapanovski

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

With only goal difference separating these two sides it would be no surprise if this match is a close encounter.

Hibernian have lost their last two fixtures and manager David Gray will be looking for a spark from his players to reignite their league campaign.

Falkirk have been the surprise package in the Premiership and the experience of manager John McGlynn cannot be underestimated. Some say football management is a young man's game but McGlynn has certainly shown he has what it takes and Hibs will have to be at their best to come out on top this afternoon.

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Hibernian: Sallinger, C Cadden, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Mulligan, Chaiwa, McGrath, Barlaser, Bowie, Boyle.

Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, Levitt, Youan, Newell, Hoilett, Mitchell, Megwa, Campbell.

Falkirk: Bain, Lissah, Allan, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Tait, Ross, Williams, Miller, Graham.

Substitutes: Hogarth, Hart, Yeats, Agyeman, Edwards, Samuel-Ogunsuyi, Arfield, Wilson, Cartwright.

Motherwell: Ward, O'Donnell, McGinn, Gordon, Koutroumbis, Fadinger, Watt, Just, Charles-Cook, Maswanhise, Stamatelopoulos.

Substitutes: Connelly, Sparrow, Slattery, Priestman, Ross, Longelo, Welsh, Hendry, Said.

Livingston: Prior, Lawal, Finlayson, Wilson, Montano, Tait, Susoho, Smith, Pittman, Yengi, May.

Substitutes: Hamilton, McGowan, Muirhead, Carey, Winter, Bokila, Shinnie, Sylla, Brenet.

Dundee: McCracken, Wright, Astley, Graham, Koumetio, Congreve, Dhanda, Hamilton, Westley, Yogane, Murray

Substitutes: O’Hara, Ingram, Donnelly, Digby, Acquah, F Robertson, Hay, Samuels, Jones

Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Jensen, Aouchiche, Polvara, Armstrong, Karlsson, Lazetic

Substitutes: Suman, Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen, Clarkson, Bilalovic, Nisbet, Dorrington, Kjartansson, Keskinen

If you're taking a break from checking out World Cup flights and accommodation, we've got four Scottish Premiership games coming up at three o'clock.

• Dundee v Aberdeen
• Hibernian v Falkirk
• Motherwell v Livingston
• St Mirren v Dundee United

Then, at the ludicrous hour of eight o'clock, Kilmarnock host Rangers.

Team news is trickling in, so let's get on with it.

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