Four clubs battle to avoid the Premiership play-off spot as Livingston face potential relegation this weekend.
This weekend could mark the end for Livingston at the base of the Scottish Premiership as four other teams engage in a fierce battle to escape the relegation play-off position.
With just five matches remaining before the league splits into two groups of six, a single set of results on Saturday could determine the bottom club's fate.
If Kilmarnock collect more points in Aberdeen than Livingston do away to St Mirren, the latter's relegation will be confirmed.
This would not be the earliest relegation in Premiership history, as Heart of Midlothian suffered that ignominy in 2014 after a 15-point deduction following insolvency.
Assuming the 12-point gap remains insurmountable, the focus shifts to the teams above the drop zone who are desperate to avoid a two-leg tie against the Championship side that wins the Premiership play-off final.
Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic remain in contention to lead the Premiership by the end of Sunday.
St Mirren, Livingston's hosts on Saturday, played a role in relegating Hearts despite Edinburgh side's victory over Partick Thistle.
Twelve years ago, St Mirren also delivered the knockout blow to Gretna, who suffered the earliest relegation this century after a 10-point deduction.
Gretna were consigned to their fate after a 2-0 loss in Paisley on March 29, 2008, with seven games still remaining.
At that time, no play-off faced the second-bottom side, but this season the stakes are higher as Neil McCann's Aberdeen side sit two points ahead of the Buddies and five behind their hosts and Dundee.
Aberdeen extended their lead over Kilmarnock with a home win over Hibernian last time out, ending an eight-game winless run.
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee, a result that came just months after Stephen Robinson took charge in January.
Robinson will be hoping for his first win in four games since joining from St Mirren to ease the mounting pressure on Aberdeen, who face the threat of their first-ever relegation.
Kilmarnock, meanwhile, are locked in a battle to avoid a repeat of 2021, when their 28-year top-flight stay ended after a play-off loss to Dundee.
Kilmarnock have not won away from Rugby Park in 13 trips since September and have lost their last four visits to Aberdeen, placing them at a disadvantage.
St Mirren, chasing an eighth straight top-flight season, will arrive at Livingston with confidence after a valiant display in the Scottish Cup semi-final, despite a 6-2 defeat to Celtic.
Interim manager Craig McLeish will emphasize their resilience in coming back from 2-0 down to force extra time.
Livingston, meanwhile, have not tasted victory away from home since beating East Fife in the League Cup opener and have failed to win at SMiSA Stadium in 10 attempts, losing the last four, including a 1-0 setback in December.
Though Livingston have not lost any of their last three league meetings with St Mirren, all finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the first decided on penalties in the Scottish Cup.
Livingston's win drought extends to 33 matches away from home since August, adding to the pressure on McLeish's side.
However, they have shown improvement under new head coach Marvin Bartley, losing just two of their last seven outings and nearly securing a first away win in months before Dundee United came from behind to win 3-2 last time out.
Sunday's Dundee derby could set the tone for both sides' remaining fixtures as United sit 12 points clear of Kilmarnock, free of relegation concerns but eager to compound their rivals' misery.
Jim Goodwin's side will make the trip from Tannadice Street to Dens Park with a psychological edge after a 1-0 win in January and a stoppage-time equalizer last month that denied United revenge.
That result sparked a four-game winless run for Steven Pressley's United, though their unbeaten streak of six matches, including three consecutive wins, suggests they are the strongest side outside the top six.
Dundee have been unbeaten in their last four visits to Tannadice since September 2021, winning the latest two, and another victory would bolster their hopes of extending their three-season Premiership stay.
Dundee also showed resilience in fighting back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock last time out, while United displayed their battling qualities in overcoming Livingston despite trailing.
A fourth consecutive top-flight win for United would mark their first such streak since November 2014, signaling their status as the best of the rest outside the traditional top six.