Dundee United have won their last three Scottish Premiership matches and they are aiming to extend their hot streak against Sunday's visitors Hearts.
Dundee United - 27/20
Only Celtic and Rangers are above Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership standings and the Terrors should be too strong for Sunday's visitors Hearts.
Jim Goodwin's men have lost only once in the league since the start of November and that was a 4-3 defeat in a chaotic contest at Motherwell on 14th December.
Dundee United bounced back from that setback impressively, holding runaway leaders Celtic to a 0-0 draw shortly before Christmas.
They have won all three of their subsequent league fixtures, including a 1-0 home victory over fourth-placed Aberdeen and a 2-1 derby success at Dundee on 2nd January.
Hearts also started the year with a win and their 1-0 home victory against Motherwell was a much-needed boost for the Jambos.
Musa Drammeh eased the home fans' nerves with a seventh-minute goal and Hearts were unfortunate not to extend their lead, racking up 18 shots to Motherwell's six and hitting the woodwork through Jorge Grant.
Their away form suggests they could be set for a difficult afternoon at Dundee United, however.
Hearts, five points clear of bottom club St Johnstone after their win over Motherwell, have lost seven of their 10 away matches this term.
Their only win on the road came at St Johnstone, who are long odds-on to finish bottom, and they blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at fellow strugglers Ross County in their final fixture of 2024, conceding in the 97th and 99th minutes.
The clubs' first meeting of the season produced a 1-0 win for Dundee United at Tynecastle, where Ross Graham's 76th-minute goal proved decisive.
That came in the midst of Hearts' horror start to the campaign. They claimed just two points from their first eight games of the season and in-form Dundee United should be confident of overcoming the Jambos again.
Goal scored before 29:00 - 5/6
September's clash between Dundee United and Hearts was goalless until the final 15 minutes but there may well be a more lively start to Sunday's showdown.
Early goals have been a feature of recent matches involving Hearts and backing the deadlock to be broken before the clock hits 29:00 looks a good bet.
In Hearts' last six league matches, the first goal has been scored in the seventh, second, ninth, 16th, 18th and 21st minutes.
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the game in the sixth minute of the Jambos' November defeat at Ibrox.
Only two of Hearts' last 16 league matches were goalless at half-time so Dundee United, who tend to start games slowly, may be able to create some early chances on Sunday.
Sam Dalby to be first goalscorer - 9/2
Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland is a significant injury absentee for Hearts so Dundee United forward Sam Dalby looks the best bet to be first goalscorer.
Dalby has played a key role in the Terrors' rise up the standings, scoring 10 goals in his last 13 Premiership appearances.
He has had three or more shots in four of his last six outings and racked up five attempts at goal in November's 3-0 home win over Ross County.
Dalby failed to score in last month's stalemate with Celtic or the 1-0 home win over fourth-placed Aberdeen but he has been ruthless against the weaker teams in the division and can land the first blow against second-bottom Hearts.
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Dundee United - 27/20
Draw - 12/5
Hearts - 19/10
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.