On paper, Dundee’s visit to Tynecastle should be a home banker.
However, it will produce the most significant result whatever the outcome.
Win and Hearts will move nine points ahead of inactive Celtic.
Draw or lose and there will be further question marks about the Edinburgh side’s ability to turn their excellent start to the season into a genuine title challenge after Wednesday’s 2-2 draw away to St Mirren allowed the reigning champions to narrow the gap.
It could have been worse given St Mirren were twice deservedly in front – and Derek McInnes’ side did show commendable grit at the ground where they suffered a League Cup penalty shootout loss in August.
Their six-game winning streak was ended, but they remain unbeaten in eight games since that cup exit.
Hosting a side sitting second bottom without a win in five trips away from Dens Park would seem like an ideal chance to get their show back on the road.
However, Dundee won 1-0 on their last visit to Tynecastle in April.
Since then, Hearts are unbeaten in nine home games, with only Motherwell denying them a win, and have gone 14 Premiership games overall without defeat.
Indeed, their 26 points this season equals their best after 10 top-flight games this century and two more wins are needed to keep pace with the 2005-06 campaign that was derailed by the surprise sacking of manager George Burley.
The incentive for former Hearts caretaker Steven Pressley’s visitors, though, is moving up three places to eighth should they secure back-to-back wins at Tynecastle for the first time since December 1998.
