Hearts will be Scottish champions for the first time since 1960 if they avoid defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday after sweeping aside Falkirk at a raucous Tynecastle.
First-half goals from an unlikely duo - centre-back Frankie Kent and midfielder Cammy Devlin - and Blair Spittal's brilliant late curling strike ensured Hearts did what they needed to do on a night of high tension and high drama.
The result in Gorgie, combined with Celtic's controversial 99th-minute win at Motherwell, means Derek McInnes' side will travel to Celtic Park on Saturday knowing a draw would be enough for a scarcely-believable Premiership crown.
For a brief period in the first half, it looked as though this would be the evening Hearts fans have dreamed of.
Two goals around the half hour at Tynecastle - combined with Motherwell taking the lead - sparked joyous scenes around the Edinburgh ground.
That was in stark contrast to a nervy start on the pitch - understandable given what is at stake.
Calvin Miller thought he had given Falkirk the lead when he broke clear and found the bottom corner, only to be denied by the offside flag.
However, Kent - in the Hearts side after Craig Halkett's Achilles injury - wriggled free to power home Alexandros Kyziridis' corner and settle the home side down.
From there, Hearts took control.
Harry Milne spurned a massive chance for 2-0 but, soon after, Devlin rushed on to a loose ball in the Falkirk box and his deflected strike nestled in the back of the net.
The news of Celtic turning the game round to lead at Fir Park quietened the party atmosphere, but as news of Motherwell's leveller in Lanarkshire came through on phones around Tynecastle, the place erupted again.
The mood improved further as Spittal cut on to his left foot and found the bottom corner with a delightful finish.
But, as the Hearts players loitered on the pitch after the final whistle, news filtered through that Celtic had snatched a late winner ensure they remain within a point and that Saturday's final day is going to be epic.