Chris Sutton has dismissed his former club Celtic's Premiership title chances and believes Hearts will last the course at the top.
The Tynecastle outfit are four points clear of Rangers in second and six clear of Celtic, who have a game in hand.
Motherwell - who have also played a game fewer than the top two - are 10 points behind Hearts.
Derek McInnes' outfit bounced back from defeat at Ibrox to beat Falkirk on Saturday, before Celtic and Rangers both failed to win on Sunday.
"It is absolutely brilliant," Sutton said on The Monday Night Club when asked about the Premiership title race.
"When Hearts lost to Rangers, everyone said Rangers will win it now - they have got the momentum and Hearts will fall away. My thoughts are that the top four are in it.
"I didn't expect Rangers to drop points at Livingston. They all have their frailties. I don't think Celtic can win it, I think they will finish third.
"There's nothing to suggest this Celtic team are going to flick a switch and win 10 games in a row. That's not going to happen."
Meanwhile, The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith believes Hearts will win the Premiership within the next five years, even if they fall short this time.
He says Celtic have to nail their next managerial appointment and improve in the transfer market if they are to reassert their dominance.
The Parkhead club have turned to Martin O'Neill on an interim basis twice this season after Brendan Rodgers' acrimonious resignation and Wilfried Nancy's ill-fated tenure.
"I think if you're Hearts, you assume this is the beginning," he said. "You'd trust Jamestown to go find another half dozen players.
"Celtic have to get the managerial appointment right and start recruiting well or I think Hearts - even if they don't win it this season - will win it in the next five."