2 weeks ago
Only 4 sets of fixtures to go. Getting nervous? It's a nail-biting clip successful nan Scottish Premiership pinch 5 games connected Saturday, 1 connected Sunday and overmuch still to beryllium decided.
Celtic tin agelong their lead astatine nan apical to six points connected Saturday earlier title rivals Rangers play nan pursuing day, while Heart of Midlothian and Kilmarnock could officially clinch 3rd and 4th places respectively.
At nan bottom, Livingston will beryllium officially relegated if they neglect to astatine slightest lucifer Ross County's consequence astatine location to Hibernian arsenic they sojourn Motherwell.
Here's a fewer of nan cardinal things to look retired for complete nan weekend...
It's not often that lightning strikes twice, ne'er mind 3 times, successful a azygous play for non-Old Firm sides against Glasgow's large two.
However, Hearts person nan chance to make it a hat-trick of victories complete Celtic for nan first clip since October 1961, erstwhile they went connected to triumph 5 successful a row.
It is besides that agelong since nan Edinburgh broadside won consecutive convention games astatine Celtic Park, their 2-0 triumph successful December being their first successful 24 visits. It besides ended a tally of 14 consecutive defeats there.
This is simply a Hearts broadside pinch a renewed assurance that they tin compete pinch nan Old Firm, moreover if Steven Naismith's broadside fell short of their ain expectations successful nan caller Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers.
Nevertheless, while Hearts' results since beating nan reigning champions 2-0 astatine Tynecastle successful early March person been a spot up and down, Celtic person gone connected different seven-game unbeaten run, winning six of them.
It is simply a repetition of nan script aft Hearts won by nan aforesaid scoreline astatine Celtic Park successful December, truthful Rangers fans will nary uncertainty beryllium viewing this arsenic nan champion chance of Brendan Rodgers' broadside slipping up extracurricular of nan forthcoming Old Firm derby.
The Northern Irishman's broadside have, though, done capable successful caller weeks to return advantage of Rangers' ain blips to re-establish a three-point lead.
While their performances person still been viewed arsenic dependable alternatively than scintillating, Celtic person now won six of their latest 7 location convention matches, scoring 2 aliases much goals successful 5 of those victories.
They person recovered nan nett an mean of 3 times per crippled since that past conclusion by Hearts, pinch seasoned winger James Forrest nan latest to spot successful pinch 3 successful 2 matches.
In contrast, Hearts extremity instrumentality Lawrence Shankland, who scored successful some their caller wins complete Celtic, has only added 1 to his season's tally successful his past 8 outings.
Naismith's broadside will beryllium looking to nan Scotland striker to thief debar a 3rd consecutive crippled without scoring arsenic they look for nan triumph that will officially extremity Kilmarnock's hopes of catching them successful 3rd place.
James Tavernier is much utilized to being successful nan spotlight for his astonishing goals publication - now officially nan champion by immoderate British defender.
However, nan 31-year-old Rangers skipper besides finds himself nether adjacent scrutiny for his domiciled astatine nan different extremity of nan pitch.
It is Connor Goldson who has paid nan biggest value for caller protect lapses that person allowed Celtic to retake nan Premiership lead, pinch nan long-established centre-half being benched for 2 games successful a row.
But Tavernier's ain shape has been specified that St Mirren were said to person targeted his right-back position arsenic a imaginable anemic spot past weekend.
The Englishman responded by providing nan transverse that led to Rangers' winning extremity successful Paisley and he has now been straight progressive successful 11 goals crossed his past 10 Premiership matches, scoring 7 and assisting four.
Overall, his 26 extremity involvements - 17 goals and 9 assists - are nan astir of immoderate subordinate successful nan Premiership this season.
That has not stopped Rangers being linked pinch a move for West Ham United right-back Ben Johnson this week.
Tavernier besides had to play down a newspaper study suggesting he mightiness beryllium reunited pinch erstwhile Rangers head Steven Gerrard astatine Saudi nine Al-Ettifaq.
For now, he will simply beryllium looking to support Kilmarnock's vulnerable wingers, Matty Kennedy and Danny Armstrong, quiet while providing nan ammunition needed to unafraid a seventh consecutive triumph astatine Ibrox complete nan Ayrshire broadside - and amended connected a tally of only 1 triumph successful their latest 4 location games - to support their title hopes alive.
When Craig Levein was appointed head successful November, he was viewed by astir arsenic "a safe brace of hands" who would surely assistance St Johnstone clear of relegation trouble.
The fans' religion has dwindled importantly successful nan months that followed and nan erstwhile Scotland manager's broadside are still progressive successful a head-to-head pinch second-bottom Ross County to debar a play-off.
Add into nan operation this week's news that semipermanent proprietor Geoff Brown has announced an statement to waste his controlling liking to American lawyer Adam Webb and nan stakes are possibly now moreover higher for nan 59-year-old.
Webb has revealed nary item astir his plans different than "success connected nan pitch", truthful Levein and his players will nary uncertainty person moreover much inducement to amended connected a tally of 4 defeats, conceding 2 aliases much goals successful each, successful their latest 5 convention games.
That is easier said than done connected Saturday arsenic they sojourn a steadily improving Aberdeen broadside nether interim head Peter Leven who person not mislaid complete 90 minutes successful six games - their Scottish Cup punishment shoot-out nonaccomplishment to Celtic being nan 1 blip - and are unbeaten successful 4 astatine home.
However, Saints are unbeaten successful their 3 meetings pinch Dons this season, draws location and distant being followed by a 2-0 triumph connected their past sojourn to Pittodrie successful February.
Including that game, nan Saints person won 3 of their latest six connected nan road, albeit they mislaid nan different three, truthful aft 2 successive location defeats, Levein whitethorn beryllium happy to return his broadside to a venue wherever they person only mislaid doubly successful nan latest 9 visits, winning 4 of them.
