Victory for either side when the clash at Rugby Park on Saturday would see them move clear of the chasing pack. What a difference when these sides were second and third BOTTOM at the end of last season.
The club confirmed today that this represents Kilmarnock's best-ever start to a Premier League campaign.
This has been achieved after what seemed to be a daunting early-season fixture list with visits to Easter Road and Tynecastle sandwiching a home tie with Celtic before entertaining another UEFA Cup qualifier in Dunfermline and a third away match in five at League Cup winners Livingston.
Killie's next two league matches are at home against Aberdeen and Dundee United. Both opponents have improved since last season, but if Killie can capitalise on home advantage, there will be more than a few "experts" feeling rather foolish in their pre-season forecasts of doom and gloom at Rugby Park.