Motherwell host Hearts in a top-six decider in the Scottish Premiership at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon.
With just one match remaining before the league splits in half for the final five games, any of Motherwell, St Mirren or Hearts could still secure a top-half finish.
Match preview
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For the hosts, the situation is clear this weekend – only a win will do for Motherwell if they are to stand any hope of finishing in the top six.
Michael Wimmer's side are eighth heading into this clash, one point behind Hearts in the table, but with a vastly inferior goal difference to the Jambos.
A victory for Mothewell would move them above Hearts in the standings, and have the Well players listening out for the outcome of St Mirren's game against Ross County.
Due to Wimmer's men having a worse goal difference than St Mirren, in the event that both clubs win this weekend, the Buddies would be near certainties to take sixth spot barring a dramatic swing in goal difference.
The hosts had a rough start to 2025, as manager Stuart Kettlewell resigned in January, with the Glaswegian citing fan abuse during a poor run of form as the reason behind his departure.
Kettlewell left the club when they were fifth in the table, but they had secured only one win in their last nine fixtures before he resigned.
The club were winless in four matches at the time of his departure, a run that extended to seven, before Wimmer secured two wins in his opening three matches in charge.
Since beating Rangers at the beginning of March, the Well are winless in their last three matches, and they suffered defeat in their past two games.
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They take on a Hearts side that have had a drastic improvement in fortunes since the turn of the year, as the club were 11th around the festive period, with just four wins in the first half of the campaign.
The Jambos have gained 23 points in the 13 matches since suffering defeat at home to Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby on Boxing Day, and the fact that they are even in contention for a top-six finish is testament to the fine job that Neil Critchley has done at the club since arriving in October 2024.
Last weekend, all three clubs in the hunt for the final place in the top six fell to defeat, with Hearts losing 1-0 to Dundee United, while St Mirren lost to Dundee, and Motherwell lost to Kilmarnock, leaving the Jambos in control of their own fate this weekend.
Motherwell and Hearts have met twice already this season, with the Well winning 3-1 in the clash at Fir Park back in August.
This weekend's visitors got their revenge for that defeat back in January, as Musa Drammeh netted the only goal of the match at Tynecastle.
Victory for the visitors this weekend is far from a guarantee, as Hearts have performed significantly better on their home turf this season, with only 15 of their 39 points to date being won on their travels.
However, they know that this weekend, three points are required, otherwise they will be opening up the door to both St Mirren and potentially Motherwell to move above them.
Team News
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Motherwell have been handed a boost ahead of this match as Kofi Balmer's red card from last weekend's defeat at Kilmarnock has been rescinded upon appeal.
Elsewhere, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (broken wrist), Shane Blaney (knee), Sam Nicholson (knee), Jack Vale (Achilles), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and Archie Mair (hand) are all expected to be sidelined due to injury.
Liam Gordon and Marvin Kaleta both missed out last weekend due to illness, and they will need to be assessed ahead of this clash.
In disappointing news for Hearts, James Wilson will miss this match due to suspension following his red card against Dundee United last weekend.
Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent are both pushing for a return following recent injuries, but they will need to pass a late fitness test to be involved this weekend.
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; Casey, Balmer, O'Donnell; Thompson, Andrews, Halliday, Sparrow, Slatter, Miller; Armstrong
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Penrice, McCart, Steinwender, Forrester; Baningime, Kartum, Spittal, Grant; Kabangu, Shankland
We say: Motherwell 1-1 Hearts
This is not the result that either side will be hoping for this weekend, but we see this game ending in a draw.
As the table and their previous meetings this season suggest, there is little to separate these two teams, and this result would allow St Mirren to leapfrog Hearts in the standings, provided that they secure three points against Ross County.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
