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Falkirk have midfielder Tom Taiwo back in their squad for Thursday's Scottish Premiership play-off final first leg against Kilmarnock.

The former Hibernian player missed the semi-final second leg against the Leith side with an ankle knock.

Long-term absentees Peter Grant and Conor McGrandles remain out.

Steven Smith, David Syme, Mark Connolly and Chris Johnston have been injured long-term for Killie, who finished second bottom of the top flight.

Reporter's notes

For Falkirk and Kilmarnock, an entire season has now been distilled into two games. Promotion or relegation is at stake, and there is no scope left to hope that the effects of mistakes or misjudgements can be salvaged in time.

Both managers are intent on embracing the occasion, even though they approach the ties in contrasting moods. For Falkirk's Peter Houston, the ambition all campaign has been to make the final and attempt to reach the Premiership.

He has spent some of the build-up to the first leg at the Falkirk Stadium urging his players not to let themselves be content with what they have achieved so far. The prize, after all, is still to be won or lost.

Lee Clark's spell in charge of Kilmarnock has been spent trying to avoid this fate. Nonetheless, he does not want his players to be intimidated by trying to save the club from a calamitous fate.

Houston has the advantage of being able to prepare his players by reminding them of their performances so far. In particular, he can nurture the determination and bloody-mindedness that has seen his side specialise in critical late goals.

Clark needs his team to radically alter its form. There have been moments of impressive play, but they have merely punctuated more prolonged spells of dismay. Both managers can benefit from emphasising that no prior event will influence what happens in the final two games of their season.

Even so, with the likes of Blair Alston, Craig Sibbald, Will Vaulks, Mark Kerr and Lee Miller all capable of being positive influences on the Falkirk side, the edge lies with the home side in the first leg.

Kilmarnock can be resourceful in the final third, particularly when Kallum Higginbotham is in sprightly form, but hesitancy at the back and in the opposition penalty area has undermined them.

Falkirk will take comfort from their optimism, whereas Kilmarnock have to shake off any pessimistic thoughts. That alone ought to favour the Championship team.