St Mirren's hopes of seeing their festive matches with Celtic and Rangers postponed this week have been kicked into the long grass by the SPFL.
But if the Buddies receive another positive coronavirus case this morning then their clash with the Hoops may yet still be called off.
Jim Goodwin's side are already without a host of first team players due to contracting Covid-19, with the Paisley club hoping to call on a number of their development team youngsters to fill their starting XI for the visit of Ange Postecoglou's men.
But given the significant number of players and staff already affected by the disease, it's understood that another positive result and the subsequent close contacts they would likely produce would be enough to see tonight's game postponed until later in the season.
A statement released last night by the Buddies read: "St Mirren Football Club can confirm that it has requested postponements of our upcoming cinch Premiership matches against Celtic and Rangers following further positive covid tests.
"We have tried our utmost to fulfil the fixture, however, following further positive covid cases this morning we are unable to field a team for either match with a significant number of first-team players and staff unavailable.
"The health and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our utmost priority and we will continue to take every precaution necessary.
"We are in continued discussions with the SPFL and we will keep supporters updated as we look for a resolution to this matter."
That request was denied by the SPFL late last night. Under emergency SPFL rules games must go ahead as scheduled if any stricken club still has enough manpower at its disposal to draw from a squad of 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
Should Goodwin's players come through the latest round of pcr tests unscathed, tonight's clash will go ahead.
The whole of Scottish football is currently in discussion on whether to bring forward the winter break currently scheduled for the start of January or not.
That is due to the huge increase in Omicron coronavirus cases and the subsequent restriction of crowd capacities to 500 set to kick in from Boxing Day.
