What Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell need to snatch final Scottish Premiership top 6 place
It will be one from three as Neil Critchley, Michael Wimmer and Stephen Robinson all know what is required on Saturday
Hate it or love it, more often than not the split at least produces some jeopardy as we approach Easter.
This weekend sees the final Scottish Premiership pre-split fixtures take place and there's a three-way fight on for the final top six place.
It's currently occupied by Hearts, and Neil Critchley's side will feel they should have got the job done on Sunday, but a 0-1 home defeat to Dundee United offered Motherwell and St Mirren a lifeline.
And with the Steelmen taking on the Jambos at Fir Park, that game has become a straight shootout for a top half finish this season.
St Mirren will need to take care of their end of the bargain and hope for the right result in Lanarkshire.
The Scottish football purists would probably prefer to see things stay as they with the natural "big six" currently where they should be, more or less.
But Scottish football isn't all that pure and respect for reputations is thin on the ground.
Record Sport looks at what each side needs to ensure they're not fighting to avoid the relegation playoff spot in the last five matches of the campaign.
Hearts
It's a simple equation for the Jambos. Win and it doesn't matter what happens in Paisley (a phrase that will send shudders down your spine if you're a Jambo of a certain vintage.) Three points puts them four points clear of the two behind them and it's game over.
A draw could also be enough, provided St Mirren don't win as the capital club are nine goals better off on goal difference.
Boss Critchley said: The positive thing is it’s in our favour (to make top six). We’re not relying on other results. We know if we go there and win, then it’s job done. It’s still in our hands and we have to use that as a positive.
“If we play like we did against Dundee United, with a little bit of better quality (in the final third), then that will give us a good chance.”
Motherwell
The Steelmen need to win. And hope St Mirren fail to. The three points would see them leapfrog the Jambos, but a Saints win at home to County would keep them ahead of the Fir Park club on goal difference, who would need an 11 goal swing to sneak ahead.
Wimmer was angry after 10-man 'Well went down 2-0 to Kilmarnock at the weekend and insists there's one way his team won't be finishing top six. He said: "We don’t go into the top six with talking, talking, talking we have to bring performance but today there is no blame for the players it was difficult. The only thing that makes me angry is the set piece because last week we conceded two and we conceded another one again.
St Mirren
Stephen Robinson's side know they can beat Ross County and it won't matter if Hearts do the business at Fir Park.
And while a Motherwell win almost certainly wouldn't be enough to deny them if they can do the same, the ideal result for the Paisley club would be a draw.
Robinson doesn't believe his team are getting the credit they deserve for their league finishes. He said: “It’s now expected that St Mirren should be in the running for a top-six place and I read articles saying we should be.
“I’m not sure what that’s based on bar the quality of the players, the quality of the recruitment. So it’s credit to them.
“I’ve said it all along, in the running, a point off the top six and with a real chance again for three years in a row, is an incredible achievement.
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