Celtic v Kilmarnock
Table-topping Celtic will be confident of maintaining their position against a team whose Parkhead record is one of the worst in the division – Kilmarnock haven't won their on their last 64 visits.  Indeed you have to go back as far as December 1955, when two Davie Curlett goals gave them a surprise win in Glasgow’s east end. Jim Jefferies' side haven't won away from home this season, while Celtic's win at Hamilton last weekend was their first in four games.
 
Hibernian v Aberdeen
Aberdeen will want to get back into the top six after slipping to seventh following last week's home defeat by Dundee United, while the home team will aim to capitalise on their excellent performance in the draw against Rangers at Ibrox. Three of the last four Easter Road meetings of these clubs have been drawn. But a high-scoring game could be on the cards if the fixture follows recent history – there have been forty goals in their last eleven meetings.
 
Motherwell v Hearts
Motherwell – who have signed teenage defender Steven Saunders on a new contract until 2012 – have won just two of the last eight home meetings with ‘bogey club’ Hearts but go into the game having lost only one league game this season – to Hearts' Edinburgh rivals Hibs. Hearts have drawn two of their last three Clydesdale Bank Premier League games and were booed off at the end of last week's home draw with bottom club Falkirk.
 
St. Johnstone v Falkirk
This is a crunch meeting for two of the SPL's bottom three clubs and represent’s the first league game played under the home side's new £100,000 floodlights. The last three meetings of the sides have finished 3-0 – twice for Falkirk and once for St Johnstone. Falkirk manager Eddie May thanked the club's travelling fans for their support in the goalless draw at Tynecastle last weekend and called for the same sort of support at Perth this Saturday.
 
St. Mirren v Hamilton
St Mirren will hope to cement their place in the top six but will surely anticipate a tight encounter this Saturday – both their meetings with Accies last season at their former home Love Street were settled by a single goal. Simon Mensing won the last meeting of the sides for Accies in May.

Saints' striker Tom Brighton is out for the rest of the season after injuring both his anterior and cruciate ligaments against Motherwell last weekend – but the side will be buoyed by Tuesday's comfortable win over 'Well in the League Cup.
 
Dundee United v Rangers (Sun, 12:45pm)
Sunday will be the Champions’ first return to Tannadice since winning last season's Clydesdale Bank Premier League title there with a 3-0 win in May.  Rangers, who are unbeaten in the last eight meetings of the clubs, will be without key players for their second Tayside trip in six days after Tuesday's League Cup win at Dens Park. Thigh injury victim Lee McCulloch is out and Pedro Mendes remains doubtful.  Meanwhile, United reacted angrily this week to claims from across the city that their midfielder Scott Robertson was wanted by rivals Dundee.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 29 December 2009