Michael Stewart
Former Hearts midfielder on Sportsound

It's no surprise the SFA have gone for an experienced team of officials as VAR makes its bow.

Kevin Clancy is the referee, with Willie Collum appointed as VAR. The assistant VAR is Graeme Stewart. Stewart will continue to watch the game as it unfolds while Collum reviews incidents.

There is a three-person team at VAR HQ watching this game, with a replay operator helping them get all the right angles.

Image source, Scottish FA

Image source, SNS

If you want more detail on how VAR will operate in Scotland, my colleague Scott Mullen has compiled a good explainer piece.

Have a gander at it here.

It's worth noting one of the things that the VAR cannot review. Second yellow cards.

If a player who has already been cautioned commits a foul which probably should have warranted a second yellow, but was missed by the ref, the VAR cannot intervene.

That's Fifa's rule. Nothing to do with the SFA or referees here.

Image source, SNS

Let's be clear about what VAR will review.

• All goals scored
• Straight red cards (either missed or given)
• Penalty incidents
• Mistaken identity

The VAR, who tonight is Willie Collum, will perform checks on these incidents as a matter of course.

If he and his assistant feel the referee has made a mistake they will recommend a review. If it's a subjective decision (e.g. Was that a foul in the penalty area?), the VAR will recommend the ref goes to the monitor.

If it's a factual decision (e.g. a penalty was awarded but the foul was outside the box) the VAR will give the referee that information.

The final call is ALWAYS taken by the on-field referee.

St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson referenced the last time these two met on the opening day of the season when asked about VAR yesterday.

He recalled the fact he had midfielder Murray Davidson sent off, while Marijan Cabraja was only booked for a similar tackle on Ryan McGowan. Hibs won 1-0 thanks to Josh Campbell's goal.

That's why managers and clubs want VAR now, given it's ready, rather than waiting until next season. They voted for it.

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson makes three changes to the side that lost 1-0 away to Livingston last time out.

Stevie May, Theo Bair, and Jamie Murphy all drop to the bench.

In come Connor McLennan, Nicky Clark, and the on-loan Adam Montgomery.

Hibs boss Lee Johnson makes three changes to the team thumped by Celtic last week.

It looks like a back five as Rocky Bushiri, Marijan Cabraja and Kyle Magennis all start.

Lewis Stevenson, Nohan Kenneh and striker Harry McKirdy are the players to make way.

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Hibernian: Marshall, Cabraja, Bushiri, Porteous, Cadden, Hanlon, Newell, Campbell, Magennis, Boyle, Kukharevych.

Substitutes: Schofield, Kenneh, Jair, Stevenson, Henderson, Mitchell, McKirdy, Youan, Fish.

St Johnstone: Matthews, Brown, Considine, Mitchell, Gordon, Montgomery, Hallberg, McGowan, Wright, McLennan, Clark

Substitutes: Parish, Crawford, Gallacher, Phillips, Kucheriavyi, Wotherspoon, May, Bair, Murphy

Image source, BBC Sport

I do love me some Friday night football. A couple of cans of juice, the game, up the road, and you have the rest of your weekend. Perfect.

Anyway, a jam-packed Easter Road is where it's at tonight. St Johnstone are the visitors. VAR makes its Premiership debut.

And, according to Hibs: "there will be live music to get supporters hyped before former Hibs captain Grant Brebner returns to Easter Road to bring out the match ball."

We'll have all the drama right here.

Image source, SNS