Hearts knocking it about nicely, but it's come to nothing so far.

St Mirren are sitting in very deep, moving to a back five when defending.

A first sniff for Falkirk.

The ball falls kindly for Barney Stewart and he lays the ball back and runs in behind.

The pass arrives and the striker recalled from Dunfermline Athletic manages to shoot from inside the box, but wide of the goal and it's comfortable for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Tynecastle

A little bit late in kicking off at Tynecastle as Saints goalkeeper Shamal George had to change his top!

We're now under way at Tynecastle too...

John Collins
Former Celtic midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Typical Celtic, they want Callum McGregor on the ball.

Falkirk, like all teams, put a man on him, but he's got terrific technique.

Falkirk give the ball away and Yang Hyun-jun is able to drive forward, but the winger's cross is blocked.

Over on the near side, Benjamin Nygren makes a run down the left, but his low ball is picked up by goalkeeper Scott Bain.

Celtic get the match under way at Falkirk Stadium.

Still waiting for the players to emerge from the Tynecastle tunnel meanwhile.

A lot has been made by Derek McInnes and various Hearts podcasts and media sites about the atmosphere at Tynecastle.

They've got kids lining the pitch, waving flags. They've got the disco lights flashing while the team is announced. The scarves are being twirled in the stands.

The head coach wants the fans right behind his team from minute one.

So here is the big question.

Are Celtic still favourites to retain their title despite being behind Hearts and Rangers?

Thumbs up below for yes, thumbs down for no.

And remember you have a choice of commentaries by pressing the relevant link at the top of this page.

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland

Got the feeling John McGlynn’s a bit miffed he’s not getting a stab at Wilfried Nancy's Celtic. Instead, he’s facing a Martin O’Neill side and he knows full well that means a much sterner test.

Falkirk have shipped four goals in both their matches against Celtic this season, in the Premiership and the League Cup.

But there’s an undeniable crackle of electricity in the air tonight.

The Falkirk fans have packed this place out. Their side is flying. The first goal here tonight will be massive.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "Killian [Phillips] saw the specialist this morning. He has got a tear in his shoulder but one that doesn't require surgery at this moment in time.

"Shamal [George] rested for two or three days and his knee felt okay again. They [alongside Alex Gogic] are three big bonuses for us.

"We had five midfielders missing on Saturday. We had Jonah Ayunga missing. I'd defy any team in the land to do without their starting midfield. Players have to step up and they haven't done so far.

"We don't want to change anything, we wouldn't swap the cup win for anything, but we have to navigate them. A lot of our injuries won't come back until the middle of February. We can't dwell on that, we have to step up and get results."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Tynecastle

There is a huge expectancy from everyone at Hearts these days and the thousands of fans turning up this evening who will be expecting a run-of-the-mill victory.

But winning games of football is the hardest part of the job and it will be interesting to see just how much the physical effort of Sunday's win at Dens Park will have taken its toll.

For Saints, though, it’s all about finding that winning vein again. It’s been tough through injuries and suspensions and Stephen Robinson needs a bit of luck to go his way that has been missing in the league this season.

It’s cold, but another sellout crowd inside Tynecastle should ensure there is no lack of atmosphere.

Falkirk have conceded four goals in both their meetings with Celtic this season - and 13 overall in their last three if you add last season's 5-2 League Cup loss.

But those were all at Celtic Park, with this the Glasgow side's first visit to Falkirk Park since 2010.

Including that one, Celtic have won their latest six meetings and they are unbeaten in 15 overall since that 1-0 defeat at Falkirk Stadium in March 2007 with current Parkhead goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in goal for the Bairns.

While a win is important for Hearts' title push, St Mirren have their own burning need for three points at the other end of the table.

A victory would take them to within a point of Dundee in ninth place with a game in hand, but perhaps more importantly, they would move seven clear of Kilmarnock.

However, Stephen Robinson's visitors have lost three in a row, are without a win in four and also have not won in six away from home.

And Hearts have still not lost in 12 games at home this season.

Image source, SNS

Celtic had won twice and lost six of their games under Wilfried Nancy, but they bounced back to impressive form under Martin O'Neill on Saturday, easing aside Dundee United 4-0 after two successive defeats under the Frenchman.

The Glasgow side have lost three of their last four on the road and the Northern Irishman will want an immediate improvement to their away form.

Falkirk, meanwhile, have won three of their latest four outings to move into sixth place in the Premiership after their fine 2-0 win away to St Mirren.

It's finished level after 90 minutes in both meetings between Hearts and St Mirren this season, both in Paisley.

However, before the 2-2 league draw in October, it was the Buddies who prevailed after a penalty shoot-out in the League Cup.

However, St Mirren have lost in their latest three visits to Tynecastle since a 2-0 win in April 2023.

Image source, SNS

That last Celtic side to lose to Falkirk in 2007 was like a who's who of future managers.

Dundee's Steven Pressley, Partick Thistle's Mark Wilson, Dunfermline Athletic's Neil Lennon and Cove Rangers' Paul Hartley were all in the starting line-up.

Ayr United's Scott Brown, Exeter City's Gary Caldwell and recent Swansea City caretaker Darren O'Dea were on the bench.

Image source, SNS

Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "Historically, you can be on a good run and play one of the Old Firm, then all of a sudden the wheels come off and you can be scrambling.

"We've got Hearts then Celtic again and then Hibs and you realise you're going to go through tough spells.

"So we need to keep our feet on the ground and continue to work hard.

"In an ideal world, Celtic wouldn't keep bringing back Martin O'Neill. We got hit with it last time and then [Dundee United's] Jim Goodwin got hit with it at the weekend.

"We're at home tonight, which is different to 60,000 at Celtic Park on a beautiful surface. We've got to hope the Celtic players don't fancy it and we're at it."

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes tis relieved that full-back Harry Milne has recovered from injury.

"We got a worrying scan, but Harry said he felt fine," he tells BBC Scotland. "He's been running, did so much work with the physios on Monday and he trained yesterday as if there was nothing wrong with him.

"The onus is on us to be a bit more attacking tonight. Craig [Gordon] comes back in to build on a brilliant 45 minutes for him.

"We're making sure we play quick, between the lines and get our front players on the build. St Mirren have filled the pitch, so we'll have to move the ball quick, and ask the question.

"Mentally, they're buzzing."

Image source, SNS