McInnes returns to Tynecastle as Scotland's top flight splits into a busy Wednesday
Derek McInnes goes back to Tynecastle on Wednesday night, when his Rangers side visit Hearts in Gorgie, Edinburgh. The Scottish Premiership, Scotland's top division, kicks off at 8pm, and it is the match to watch on a midweek card that runs across the country.
McInnes came within minutes of leading Hearts to the title in May. Over the summer he left them for Rangers. Hearts now sit four points behind his new club in the table, so a win would close the gap at the top.
Ahead of the game, BBC Scotland reported that McInnes said he felt "guilt" about the way his time at Hearts ended. He does not expect the Hearts fans to acknowledge that with him when he returns.
Rangers will also be without two familiar faces. Striker Lawrence Shankland moved from Hearts to Rangers before McInnes did, and midfielder Cammy Devlin followed. Both are injured and will miss the trip.
Over at Celtic Park, Celtic host Dundee United at 7.45pm. United have been strong lately. They have now gone five matches unbeaten and moved up to fourth after a 3-2 win over Aberdeen at Tannadice.
Their manager, Jim Goodwin, has a good record against Celtic. He has beaten them in two of his last three meetings, and both wins came at Tannadice last season. Celtic, though, have not lost to United at home in any competition since a 1-0 league defeat in December 1992. That is 51 home games without defeat. Goodwin has said he took inspiration from Jens Berthel Askou's work at Motherwell last season when he reshaped his own team's style.
In Paisley, St Mirren play Hibernian at 7.45pm. Hibs are at the foot of the table, the bottom of the league, after a narrow defeat by Celtic on Sunday. It leaves Marink Reedijk, their manager, with three straight defeats, and he is still looking for his first win in charge.
St Mirren have their own reason for optimism. They ended a run of five straight league defeats by beating Dundee on Saturday. Hibs have lost only two of their last 14 Premiership visits to St Mirren, which gives the hosts a reason to be cautious too.
The rest of the midweek programme also kicks off at 7.45pm. Aberdeen face Falkirk, Dundee meet Kilmarnock, and St Johnstone host Motherwell. Hearts' game is the late one at 8pm.
For neutrals, the appeal is simple. A table can look settled on paper, but a single goal in the closing minutes can change a season's mood. Wednesday gives a few clubs a chance to change theirs.
