Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann tells BBC Scotland: "It's a big night for us. It was a sore one against Falkirk, but the break might have been a good thing - giving us more time to prepare for the league leaders. Hopefully we can make it uncomfortable for them.

"How we're training is first class. I've freshened it up tonight and that gives those boys a chance to keep the jersey.

"I do feel there's a unity in the group. The boys are confident and I'm looking forward to seeing them play."

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Hearts, who won 3-0 on their last visit in October, dropped two points at home to the Ayrshire side at home in December.

They are aiming to make it three top flight wins in a row at Rugby Park for the first time since January 2011.

Allan Preston
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Hearts will need to watch Finlay Curtis, he's a fantastic talent. He takes people on, he puts in good crosses.

Harry Milne might not get forward so much for Hearts tonight. I think that will be a pivotal battle.

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Kilmarnock showed some signs of recovery under new manager Neil McCann, the former Hearts and Rangers winger, after ending a 17-game run for a victory.

But this evening's hosts are now without a victory in three outings and were thrashed 5-1 by Falkirk last time out.

Since Christmas, as injuries to key players have started to bite, Hearts have lost away to city rivals Hibs, St Mirren and Rangers.

However, the inconsistency of the Old Firm has helped maintain a healthy points gap at the top and kept the Edinburgh side on course for their first top-tier league title since 1960.

Following two, at times nervy, single-goal home wins, Derek McInnes takes his side to Rugby Park looking to avoid a third consecutive away defeat.

With bottom-six sides Dundee and Livingston up next, Hearts will see this as a great chance to maintain momentum.

Cammy Bell
Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Kilmarnock have had time to stew on the 5-1 defeat at Falkirk, so I'm not surprised there are changes.

The big problem has been conceding far too many goals, so they can't gift Hearts opportunities because they will take them and punish you.

Allan Preston
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

There are nine cup finals left for Hearts.

If they play like they did against Aberdeen, they will give Kilmarnock a lot of problems.

Hearts are still without captain Lawrence Shankland but the Scotland striker is nearing a return.

The 30-year-old is due to begin full training next week and could be in contention to face Dundee next week.

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Four changes for Kilmarnock, with Jamie Brandon, George Stanger, Aaron Tshibola and Liam Polworth coming in.

No sign of skipper Brad Lyons.

Hearts stick with the same XI that started the last win over Aberdeen,

Oisin McEntee is fit again and takes a place on the bench, but there's no place for Beni Baningime in the squad.

Livingston eked out a fourth successive draw away to Hibs earlier and that takes the league's bottom side six points behind Kilmarnock.

Those two meet at Rugby Park next weekend and that could be a tense occasion if the home side don't pick up anything tonight.

Killie have managed just three wins from 14 home games in the league, losing eight.

Hearts manager Derek McInnes is well aware how tight a squeeze the tunnel at Rugby Park is since he spent two-and-a-half years in charge of Kilmarnock before switching to Tynecastle last summer.

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Kilmarnock: Roos, Schjønning-Larsen, Deas, Stanger, Brandon, Tshibola, Watson, Kiltie, Curtis, Polworth, Hugill.

Substitutes: Stryjek, Thompson, Mayo, McKenzie, Lowery, Thomson, Anderson, Watkins, Clescenco.

Heart of Midlothian: Schwolow, Steinwender, Halkett, Milne, Leonard, Kyziridis, Magnusson, Spittal, Braga, Kabore.

Substitutes: Fulton, Altena, Chesnokov, Forrest, Kabangu, Mato, Kent, Kerjota, McEntee.

Three, two, one... And we're back in the room.

Hearts' lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership is down to two points after Celtic's win over Motherwell.

How will the pacesetters respond? They take on relegation threatened Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in an hour.

That's all from us for the moment, but we'll be back here at 19:00 for the build-up to tonight's big game between Kilmarnock and Premiership leaders Hearts.

Celtic lumped the pressure on Derek McInnes' side with the 3-1 win over Motherwell that narrows the gap to two points.

You can read the match report here.

You can also read how Stephen Robinson's Aberdeen reigns started with a draw with Falkirk.

Meanwhile, Livingston gained another point, away to Hibs, to boost their outside hopes of avoiding relegation.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou tells BBC Scotland: "Of course it hurts. We hate losing, love winning and now we have got nothing out of the last two games even though we have put a lot in.

"The tempo was really high at times, some of the quality in the build-up was really good and our pressing was at times extremely good and it made them change their strategies.

"We got a goal from it and our bravery gave them some opportunities to punish us, which they were able to do.

"It could go both ways and I would have hoped it would not be that kind of moment or incident that tipped the game to one of the sides. I think it was a shame that [the penalty and red card] decided the game.

"It’s a penalty, which is a big chance, and a red card which makes it difficult to get back into the game and get a result."

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"Hugely frustrating," Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland. "We had real control, a dominant performance, enough chances to win two games.

"If I was being critical, our composure in the final third was maybe lacking slightly.

"It shows that you have no right to turn up and win any game. Livingston defended for the lives, put bodies on the line. If we'd got the goal, the game would completely change.

"We weren't clinical enough and it feels like an opportunity missed because we want to win our home games.

"The frustration is there, but we have to take the point and move forward."

On the overturned penalty, Gray adds: "I was disappointed not to get a clear corner, but I think because he gives the penalty, he can't then give the corner."

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Livingston manager Marvin Bartley tells BBC Scotland: "The boys gave me everything. That's all I expect, to get 100%, and I'm definitely getting that from the starters and all of the subs.

"The morale within the group is really good. We switched from a back five to a back four and they took it in their stride.

"As long as every player and every staff member continues to give everything, we have a fantastic chance to get out of this situation."

On the late penalty award for Hibs that was overturned, he adds: "I was rubbing my eyes because I think the referee was the only person to see that as a penalty kick. I couldn't believe it, but thankfully we have VAR in this division."

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson was happy with a point after his debut game in charge.

"We're disappointed in the goal at the end," he tells BBC Scotland. "We looked a lot more structured and organised than we have been.

"We only had one day to work on that. Up against a very good Falkirk team that didn't look like they were going to score.

"We can be much better on the ball. We looked like a team that have lost five out of six games. Confidence is fragile, but they know they have a structure to work on.

"There were positive performances. It was Liam Morrison's best game in an Aberdeen shirt, young Dylan Lobban was full of energy, Dennis Gieger was excellent and Nizzy [Kevin Nisbet] scores."

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill tells BBC Scotland: "It’s a big win and to come from behind and play in the matter that we did. Naturally, I’m delighted with the performance.

"Where it comes in the scheme of things, I genuinely don’t know. But today, to play against Motherwell, who are a fine, fine footballing team and fight back with all the things that were mounting up for us, like injuries, the team have found spirit.

"But spirit alone won’t do it for you and they played brilliantly. That’s a delight.

"I think for a neutral, not that I am one, I think it was a great game of football."

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