Weekend preview

Every game in this weekend’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League card has real significance, with the top and bottom six clubs all in direct opposition.

Leaders Celtic travel to play Dundee United on Sunday – live on Setanta at 2pm -  having not lost at Tannadice for 10 years but there has been nothing between the teams this season, with United fighting to back to claim a share of the spoils at home and away. Celtic, who lifted the League Cup last weekend, have not played in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League since beating Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park on March 4. United, meanwhile, are in fifth place after losing 2-1 at Motherwell.

Rangers have the chance to move to the top of the table on goal difference if they can beat third-placed Hearts at home on Saturday. Csaba Laszlo’s men won the last meeting 2-1 at Tynecastle in November but the Edinburgh club have taken just one point from their last nine visits to Ibrox. Hearts have scored the fewest goals of any team in the top seven but enjoy a five-point lead over those below them despite the 1-0 defeat to Hibernian last time out.

It could be tight at Easter Road, where four of the last five encounters between Hibernian and Aberdeen have ended in draws. Back-to-back wins have boosted Hibs’ top-six hopes while the Dons, with just one away win in five attempts in 2009, are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing to Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup. Hibernian will cut the gap on their visitors to just a single point with victory this weekend.

It is no less competitive at the bottom end of the table where just five points separate four clubs. Falkirk, four points adrift, face a huge game against an Inverness CT side who have been in excellent form under new manager Terry Butcher and who won 2-1 at The Falkirk Stadium earlier this season. John Hughes’ men knocked Caley Thistle out of the Scottish Cup recently but have won just one of their last 14 SPL matches.

St Mirren travel to Hamilton looking to complete a hat-trick of wins over Accies and move above the Lanarkshire side on goal difference. Billy Reid’s men have lost four of their last five outings – all of them by 1-0 – while Saints, despite Scottish Cup progress, are seeking their first league success since beating Hamilton 1-0 at Love Street on December 27.

The action kicks off with the Saturday lunchtime clash between Kilmarnock and Motherwell at Rugby Park, live on Setanta at 12.30pm. Killie have beaten tomorrow’s opponents twice already this term but are without a home league win since November 15. Motherwell are looking to push into the top six after a run of just one defeat in their 11 SPL outings.

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