Dundee United and St Johnstone go into the penultimate round of fixtures tied together on 53 points after drawing 1-1 at McDiarmid Park.
The Tangerines do have a better goal difference than their Tayside rivals and those three goals could prove to be crucial.
Also, with Saints still to play the top two teams in the league Celtic and Aberdeen they are clearly up against it, while it could be argued United’s games against Inverness Caley Thistle and Dundee are easier prospects on paper.
It looks like it’s advantage United but nothing can, or will, be taken from granted by the Tannadice men.
Perhaps fittingly, given that the league is so tight, the teams couldn’t be separated on Saturday.
After a bright start by the hosts, United hit the post with a 30-yard strike from Nadir Ciftci on 19 minutes.
The home side were guilty of some terrible finishing, the worst missed opportunity being the penalty taken by their captain Dave Mackay after Michael O’Halloran was challenged by United defender Callum Morris.
The kick was expertly saved by Tangerines’ goalie Rado Cierzniak right before half-time to send the visitors inside with smiles on their faces.
That excellent stop from the big Pole, who looks likely to leave the club, gave them a huge boost.
United then took the lead on 68 minutes when a Robbie Muirhead header from a Chris Erskine cross hit the bar and the rebound was nodded over the line by John Rankin from just inches out.
Saints hit back, though, with a terrific equaliser on 77 minutes, with Murray Davidson sweeping the ball home after being found by a Danny Swanson cross to give the scoreline a fairer look about it.
United had a late shout for a penalty of their own when Ciftci went down after a challenge from Mackay but nothing was given.
The Saints skipper felt there was nothing in it.
Mackay said: “I felt Ciftci went down very softly.
“He said he didn’t dive.
“The referee also said he didn’t dive but also said it wasn’t a foul.
“He (Ciftci) is a good player but it wasn’t a penalty.
“He can handle himself and is a top player who will move onto bigger and better things in the near future, but I am sure some of his own players get frustrated with him at times.”
However, United manager Jackie McNamara couldn’t understand the decision by referee Kevin Clancy to wave play on.
Commenting on the penalty claim, McNamara said: “I thought there was contact there – the lad has taken him out.
“He (Clancy) was very quick to point to the spot in the first half when the lad (O’Halloran) was behind Callum Morris and their legs came together.
“Nadir was in a better position and his legs were taken away.
“I don’t think he has done anything to merit a booking.”
As for the match overall, McNamara added: “It could have gone either way.
“Obviously, with us going in front it was disappointing not to hang on to it.
“However, our keeper has made a good save from the penalty.”
Saints boss Tommy Wright thought his players should have taken all three points and bemoaned some of the poor finishing.
He said: “I felt we were the better side, had the better chances and should have won the game.
“I was disappointed with their goal and how we reacted.
“We thought it was a foul on Tom Scobbie but we shouldn’t stand and argue with the referee.
“That made it easy for him (Erskine) to get the cross in.
“It’s a foul but we should have got on with the game.”
They also should have done much better in front of goal, with some of the “shooting” from the home team truly woeful.
David Wotherspoon, Danny Swanson and Michael O’Halloran were the worst culprits.
Having the ball sliced past and blasted over time and again must have been agony for Wright, who knew that victory would have put his side in the box seat for Europe for a fourth season in a row.
As it is, they will have to do as well as they can against the Hoops and Dons and hope they can somehow muster one more point than United, who face Inverness and Dundee.
On reflection, this should be viewed as a decent result for the Tangerines, with St Johnstone having given them so much trouble over recent times.
They won’t dare see the fixtures against ICT and their city rivals as anything other than difficult games but, given the choice, they would rather have their own run-in than the one faced by Saints.