Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

A lot of thoughts here at Rugby Park are directed elsewhere, with many messages of support for the absent Dundee United manager, Jim Goodwin, who's attending to an ongoing health concern.

It's a bigger day than he was anticipating, therefore, for visiting assistant manager Lee Sharp, who says little niggles to Dylan Tait and Vicko Sevelj mean they won't be risked.

For home boss Neil McCann, a big day at the office. Half of his back four is making a debut, with new additions Jonathan Meier and Cathal McCarthy coming in.

Is this the day Kilmarnock really get their season going by claiming their first points of the new campaign? It's likely to be nervy as bottom hosts second-bottom.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "We've had three games in the time we've had off. We've played Queen's Park, St Johnstone and St Mirren. We've tried to keep our match fitness up and I'm really encouraged by our performance against Motherwell.

"They will want to bounce back from midweek and we're ready for that. We understand what we've got to do. It's early in the season, we're in transition, but I'm encouraged.

"Celtic scored five against Kilmarnock and four against Dundee United. You've got to come here and stay in the game. Maybe then we can quiet the crowd and we can become more of a threat."

Dundee United assistant manager Lee Sharp tells BBC Scotland: "It's a massive game for both clubs.

"We knew that regardless of whether [manager] Jim [Goodwin] was here or not. Everything that he was relaying throughout the week, it's just a continuation from myself coming in, stepping in today.

"So the boys know the message. They know what's expected of them today.

"We have been creating the chances. You're hoping that one of these games it's just going to click and we start putting some of those chances away.

"Our performances have been okay in patches, not where we want them to be and it's a progress. Can we take that next step forward, can we keep moving forward and keep progressing and hopefully get something from the game?"

Sharp was also asked if he was ready to lose his voice.

Laughing, he replied: "Yes!"

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Third-tier leaders Hamilton Academical look to recover from their midweek home loss to League 2 side Edinburgh City as they host a Cove Rangers who have lost all five of their games on the road this season.

But game of the day is live on BBC Alba later as Ross County, unbeaten this season and who are one point behind Accies and seeking an eighth straight win, host third-placed East Kilbride.

Queen of the South look for their first points of the season away to a Montrose side who have won their latest two games 3-0 on their home patch.

• Airdrieonians v East Fife
• Alloa Athletic v Peterhead
• Hamilton Academical v Cove Rangers
• Montrose v Queen of the South
• Ross County v East Kilbride (17:30, live on BBC Alba)

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Tynecastle

After their European exertions in midweek, it will be interesting to see how the Hearts players respond after what was a gruelling but ultimately rewarding 120 minutes in Vienna.

Adrenalin can take you so far, but this afternoon they take on a team who should be as fresh as daisies after a three-week hiatus.

The last time St Johnstone were here at Tynecastle was the day they ended up being relegated to the Championship.

But this is a different team under Simo Valakari and their progress this season will be an interesting watch.

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann tells BBC Scotland: "I'd like to wish [Dundee United manager] Jim [Goodwin] all the best. He's not with us unfortunately. Wish him a speedy recovery back to full health.

"It was a chance for us to put boys in that have been pushing for a starting position. We've got a squad that's looking to be used.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing [Cathal McCarthy and Jonathan Meier] play. It's a brilliant opportunity for them to go out and show the Kilmarnock fans why I wanted to bring them here. I'm quite excited."

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill starts by telling BBC Scotland about his starting line-up: "Callum [McGregor] is ill and Kasper [Hogh] is injured.

"[Haissem Hassan] has come in late to the fray. A lot of players who played at the World Cup are trying to make adjustments and coming in at the end of pre-season. It would have been nice if he was absolutely up to speed, but he starts the game.

"We've got seven games coming up in the next 22 days and it's about managing the injury [Kasper] has. We'll take it day by day.

"It was a devastating blow [on Tuesday] considering the position we were in. It has happened. We can't do anything about it now.

"This football club, there's times where a crisis seems to appear from nowhere. Maybe we might not have been equipped to have played in the Champions League. That aside, let's go out there, try to play and try to win the game.

"This will be difficult. John [McGlynn] is a fine manager. For us, just go and play - throw the shackles off."

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a long wait and it feels great to be back. We've worked on our game, but this feels like the start of the season. We need to be ready from the first minute.

"It was a sad day [when we were last here], but a day we needed as a club to reset [relegation] to get where we want to be. We've done a lot of work from that moment.

"Our opponent is different, too. When we played them, they were bottom six, they pushed for the title last year, now they're in the group stages in Europe. It's a big challenge.

"In the three weeks, we've been able to work with Enes [Alic], get his fitness close to full match fitness."

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken tells BBC Scotland about his team selection: "We had to make some changes because of this fatigue, so we don't take the risk with some players.

"The guys showed on Wednesday we have more than just 11 players. They have to show that again today, from the start.

"These guys are on the bench for a reason. We'll see how many minutes we can give some players. We have to show the same energy.

"St Johnstone are the underdogs, that's always dangerous. It's a different approach to Wednesday, when we were underdogs. It's important we show quality on the ball and manager their moments."

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Hearts make four changes the side that went the distance before beating Rapid Vienna on penalties on Wednesday night.

Christian Borchgrevink comes in at left-back, with Jamie McCart dropping out. Tomas Magnusson and Laurent Mendy make up a new-look midfield, with Blair Spittal rested and Tom Renaud injured.

On the right wing, Sabah Kerjota starts, with Calvin Miller - who was hobbling around for the majority of extra-time in Vienna - on the bench.

Stuart Findlay captains with Spittal on the bench, while American striker JJ Williams could make his debut from the bench after his move from Rhode Island.

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There's already been one game in the second tier and Dunfermline Athletic's win over Fife rivals Raith Rovers - see highlights below - means Stenhousemuir and Partick Thistle have the chance to move three points clear of the Kirkcaldy side at the top of the table.

Surprise leaders on goal difference Stenny host fellow promoted side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who have yet to win since their title win.

Meanwhile, Thistle entertain pointless Glasgow rivals Queen's Park, while financially troubled Greenock Morton are seeking their first points away to Ayr United.

Livingston, one point behind the three leaders, could potentially also go top as they visit Arbroath.

• Arbroath v Livingston
• Ayr United v Greenock Morton
• Partick Thistle v Queen's Park
• Stenhousemuir v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Celtic captain Callum McGregor missed training on Friday with a stomach bug and is not involved at all today, so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joins Mika Baur and Benjamin Nygren in Martin O'Neill's midfield.

Kasper Hogh is also not in the matchday squad - Camilo Duran leads the line in his absence - and there is a first start out wide for Egypt international Haissem Hassan.

The only other change from Tuesday's dismal Champions League collapse against LASK is in the heart of defence as Liam Scales starts in place of Auston Trusty, who drops to the bench.

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Bosnian left-back Enes Alic makes his St Johnstone debut after his long-awaited transfer from Zeljeznicar finally went through this week.

He's the only change from the side that lost narrowly to St Mirren on 8 August, three weeks ago.

With no League Cup fixture to contend with after their group stage exit, and games last weekend postponed to allow sides with European qualifiers to rest, Simo Valakari's side had an extended break.

They've moved to shore up the left-hand side, but that's the only addition since.

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann gives debuts to defenders Cathal McCarthy and Jonathan Meier, the on-loan Hull City centre-back and former Ulm left-back, while winger Nicky Clescenco and Mark O'Hara also start.

Jamie Brandon and George Stanger drop to the bench, while Aaron Tshibola and Erik Ring miss out altogether.

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United did have a fitness concern over Will Ferry, but the wing-back retains his place as stand-in boss Lee Sharp nevertheless makes four changes.

Midfielder Emmanuel Agyei, winger Daniel Bennie, right-back Joshua Rawlins and striker Zac Sapsford come into the starting XI.

Idjessi Metsoko and Jesse Randall drop to the bench, while key midfielder Dylan Tait and the versatile Vicko Sevelj are not in the squad.

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Falkirk are without seven first-team players.

Keelan Adams, Joe Gardner, Ethan Laidlaw, Tom Lang, Aidan Nesbitt, Craig Sibbald and Finn Yeats miss out, but key midfielder Brad Spencer returns from suspension.

The Bairns rejected three offers from Dundee United for the 30-year-old, with manager John McGlynn saying their Premiership rivals should be "embarrassed" by the bids.

There is a debut for American winger CJ Fodrey, who is on loan from Austin and replaces Aodhan Doherty.

Celtic: Sinisalo, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Baur, Nygren, Yang, Hassan, Duran.

Subsititutes: Doohan, Trusty, McCowan, Tounekti, Osmand, Kenny, Murray, Forrest, Kennedy.

Falkirk: Bain, Strain, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Barbrook, Krauhaus, Fordrey, Ross, Parkinson.

Substitutes: Hogarth, McMillan, Donaldson, MacIver, Tanser, Melniks, Murrell, McLeod, Doherty.

Heart of Midlothian: Reus, Altena, McEntee, Findlay, Borchgrevink, Magnusson, Mendy, Kerjota, Braga, McPake, Wilson.

Subsititutes: Fulton, Miller, Williams, Kabore, Spittal, Guendouz, Kamson-Kamara, Mato, Ba-Sy.

St Johnstone: Steward, Smith, Mitchell, Diabate, Alic, Holt, McAlear, Stanton, Gullan, Paton, Fowler.

Substitutes: Sinclair, Boyes, Mikulic, Steven, Foulds, Fotheringham, Chalmers, Tait, Todd.

Kilmarnock: Stryjek, Meier, McCarthy, Deas, Schjonning-Larsen, Lowery, O'Hara, Clescenco, Kiltie, Hugill, John-Jules.

Subsititutes: Ferrie, Brandon, McKenzie, Stanger, Yfeko, Daniels, Burke, Bowie, Rice.

Dundee United: Walton, Rawlins, Forbes, Esselink, Ferry, Agyei, Camara, Yoro, Merghem, Sapsford, Bennie.

Substitutes: Amissah, Iovu, Graham, Rose, Ciubotaru, Farrugia, Randall, Naamo, Metsoko.

The big news at Rugby Park is the absence of visiting manager Jim Goodwin.

The 44-year-old Irishman took ill and was admitted to hospital on Thursday.

And Dundee United announced this morning that he will not be at the Premiership match "as he continues to deal with an ongoing medical matter".

Assistant Lee Sharp will be in charge this afternoon, so let's hear how his United side line-up, along with the team news from the other two Premiership grounds.

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