The Hearts stadium announcer takes the opportunity, while he can, to remind supporters that under “no circumstances” should fans enter the pitch at any point this evening. Many situations are at play, of course, including Hearts winning the league tonight…

After a thrilling title race full of twists or turns, it could all come down to tonight.

If Hearts beat Falkirk at home and Celtic lose away to Motherwell, Hearts will be champions with one game to spare.

Both games kick-off at the same time (8pm BST), so any goals at Tynecastle or Fir Park will filter through to the other team.

Celtic can guarantee the title goes down to the final day as long as they avoid defeat at Motherwell.

The pre-match plans of many Hearts supporters have been spoiled by a torrential downpour in Edinburgh, leaving many ducking into the crowded pubs on Gorgie Road for cover. Not that many needed an excuse.

Falkirk XI: Hogarth, Henderson, Donaldson, Allan, Hart, Spencer, Tait, Miller, Yeats, Broggio, Wilson.

Substitutes: Sneddon, Graham, MacIver, Cartwright, Oliver, Ross, Parkinson, Brown, Bennett.

Hearts XI: Schwolow, Steinwender, Findlay, Kent, Milne; Baningime, Devlin, Spittal; Kyziridis, Braga, Shankland

Hearts boss Derek McInnes said he was “assuming” that Celtic would beat Motherwell tonight to take the title race down to the final day, where Hearts play Celtic on Saturday.

“I’ve had it in my head that we’re going to the last game and I’m prepared for that,” McInnes said. “Listen, there’s no easy games for anybody, nothing’s straightforward.

“Motherwell are a more than capable team, as we saw the other night. They were fully committed against us and I’m sure that’ll be the same again against Celtic.”

Martin O’Neill saw title races against Rangers go down to the wire during his first spell with Celtic, including a final day shootout in 2005, and the Northern Irishman said he was experiencing some familiar feelings now as the 74-year-old bids to win a fourth league title.

“The anxiety wouldn’t be that much different,” O’Neill said when asked about his first spell in charge more than two decades ago. “And it’s good that I feel this way, because I’ve always felt that.

“I felt this is a player, although the thing I always felt as a player is, you could do something about it. I’ve always felt the same as a manager and then you’re depending on players for your living after that.

“And so the same sort of nervousness, the same sort of excitement, all those type of things still exist with me even at my age.”

Falkirk have punched well about their weight under John McGlynn this season but have lost two of their three games following the split and their slim hopes of finishing fifth this season and qualifying for Europe now rest on beating Hearts and Rangers in their last two.

“Mathematically it’s not done yet so we just need to go and give a good account of ourselves on Wednesday,” Falkirk forward Calvin Miller said. “I’m sure Tynecastle will be electric considering what they are going for so we really need to roll the sleeves up and get a big performance from ourselves.”

After their 1-1 draw at Fir Park on Saturday, Hearts need no reminding that Motherwell have been a tough test for any side this season under Jens Berthel Askou.

Motherwell could secure European football with a win tonight, and have beaten Celtic and Rangers this term while drawing against Hearts three times.

“It’s something that has helped us, especially at Ibrox last time, also against Hearts the other day,” Askou said when asked about playing the big teams.

“I am confident that it will also give us an advantage that we have practised that again and again and again when we played the big teams, to really try to be ourselves all the way through.

“I trust the players that they will be able to show their best side, not only technically and physically but also mentally.”

1) Hearts | Played: 36, Points: 77, GD+ 32

2) Celtic | Played: 36, Points: 76, GD+ 29

Hearts: Falkirk (h), Celtic (a)

Celtic: Motherwell (a), Hearts (h)