Heart of Midlothian is on the verge of winning their first Scottish top-flight title in 66 years, threatening the longstanding dominance of Celtic and Rangers.
With a three-point lead and three matches remaining, including a potential title decider at Celtic Park next weekend, the Edinburgh club faces an emotional week. For older fans, the memory of 1986 looms large.
That season, Hearts arrived at the final day unbeaten in 27 league games, needing only a draw at Dundee to clinch the title. Two late goals from Albert Kidd gifted Dundee a 2-0 win, while Celtic thrashed St Mirren 5-0 to snatch the championship on goal difference.
Since then, no club outside Glasgow has won the title. Celtic and Rangers share 55 titles each; Hearts, Hibernian, and Aberdeen have four apiece.
This season's surge stems from a £9.86 million investment in 2025 by Brighton owner Tony Bloom. His data company, Jamestown Analytics, provided a formula to disrupt the status quo. After finishing seventh last season-40 points behind Celtic-Hearts have exceeded expectations.
Their 2-1 win over Rangers on Monday effectively eliminated Rangers from the race. If Hearts beat Motherwell and Falkirk, and Celtic drop points, they could secure the title before the final showdown. Fans remain cautious, but the dream is alive.