After a lengthy check, referee Colin Steven is called to the monitor.

Liam Henderson is offside and interfering with goalkeeper Kelle Roos' ability to catch the ball.

So it's back to 1-0 to Falkirk. A let-off for Killie.

Livingston's Scott Pittman dives across the goalmouth, attempting to meet a fizzed cross, but he can't quite get a toe on it.

Moments later, at the other end of the pitch, Jayden Richarson's looped header crashes off the bar before it's tipped away by Jerome Prior.

A lively start.

Aberdeen have started well and Topi Keskinen crosses low to Toyosi Olusanya but the forward cannot wrap his foot around it to turn towards goal. He seemed undecided about what was the best connection.

Hearts are quickly up the other end and Tomas Magnusson's header drifts wide.

Motherwell are getting through United so easily.

Ibrahim Said picks up in the centre of the box but is cut out by Iurie Iovu and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The corner is played short before Callum Slattery flashes an attempt across the face of goal.

Ryan Stevenson
Former Hearts forward on BBC Sportsound

The atmosphere is unbelievable. What you would give to be a player on that pitch just now.

A very early booking for Hearts captain Craig Halkett after he takes out Toyosi Olusanya.

Aberdeen cannot make much of the free-kick, which was in a positive position.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

Hibernian will certainly be wanting to test Dundee keeper Jon McCracken early on given that the Dark Blues goalie has looked nervous at times in recent weeks.

Away we go...

Hearts manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Sportsound: "We're looking forward to the game. This game's eagerly anticipated.

"We need to play forward. I just want us to try and make sure we're very positive with our approach and try and go ask the question of Aberdeen.

"We need to be good. You look at Aberdeen. It is a surprise where they are in the league. Individually, they've got so many good players. They boys would want nothing better to beat us and we're going to have to be and if we win today, we've done a lot right to win.

"We've got a situation that we're trying navigate at the minute. Hopefully, by the time in two weeks' time we play again, we've got one or two back.

"I think there'll be loads of twists and turns. I'm just trying to look at the next game. A lot things can happen. You see last week as an example. Nothing's straightforward. We just try and make sure we're as good as we can be to get three points.

"We just need to try and be on point as best we can. Despite everything's that going on, just try and win a game of football."

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven tells BBC Sportsound: "It's a big week for us. We've got Hearts today, Celtic on Wednesday then we've got the cup game against Dunfermline. Any win brings confidence. If we can go on a wee run, it'll be good.

"You've got to bring your own luck, you've got to create more chances and make sure you get in the box and take your chances when they come.

"[Hearts have] done great. Good squad, good manager. We're here to try and make an upset. Great venue. Great place to play. We're here to bring our game and try and get the three points. Yes, they've got quality but so have we."

Leven also explained that Pet Bratveit and Tom McIntyre had dropped out today because of groin injuries.

Image source, SNS

Incidentally, that was the last time any team outside the Old Firm duopoly has been top at this stage.

Thirty four years ago!

The last team that wasn't Celtic or Rangers to finish on top was Aberdeen in 1984-85.

The last time Hearts were top of the table after 28 games was way back in season 1991-92 in the old two points for a win days.

Game 29 just happened to be at home to Aberdeen.

The visitors won 4-0.

The Tynecastle side never really recovered, ending a 44-match campaign as runners-up, nine points behind Rangers.

Aberdeen are having a miserable time of it in the league, with just one win in their past 11 outings.

The Dons have failed to score on each of their last six away days.

They were the first team to beat Hearts this season though, Topi Keskinen grabbing the only goal at Pittodrie on 23 November.

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann tells BBC Scotland: "I've been saying for weeks we've got such a healthy group. The training standard has improved since we've been in from what we've been asking for.

"It's great for me and selection. The only thing that can make them feel confident is performances and results and seeing rewards.

"They can see that themselves, the performances have been on a high level even when we've not got a result."

Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "We're in a good position but we need to consolidate that.

"We're up against a Kilmarnock team Neil [McCann] has managed to get a tune out of and they are fighting for their lives. We need to understand and respect that and make sure we are very much up for this.

"We want another win here to make [top six] ours."

Falkirk have beaten Kilmarnock twice this season and the visitors are winless in 11 away league games since September.

But the Bairns have lost their last two games and Killie have looked more spirited in recent weeks as they try to claw their way up the table.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "We know how difficult a game it's going to be.

"Motherwell are one of the best teams in the country, consistently, this campaign. They've got real attacking threat and their defensive record has been well documented. It's going to be a difficult one but the boys are in good spirits."

On whether United's top six hopes are fading, Goodwin adds: "Whether they're realistic or not we're going to keep fighting.

"We've got a game in hand on Falkirk as well. If we can win here today and results go in our favour elsewhere, then we could close that gap to six points. We know we've given ourselves a mountain to climb but we'll certainly keep trying."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Sport Scotland: "I said during the week we looked like we'd become embarrassed to do the things that we were very, very good at.

"We haven't done that often enough due to personnel as well, of course.

"But we've got a lot of that personnel back now, which allows me to go back to basics and back to what we were winning games with. So hopefully we'll see some evidence of that today.

"I think our inconsistency, in the cup games we've been excellent, we won here in the cup as well, but they're one-off games and we can rise to that occasion, unfortunately since the cup final we've not done that.

"We're not showing a level of consistency, so we have to break the game back down to basics again to make the simple things more achievable."