Aberdeen v Rangers
Rangers haven't won in any of the last five visits to Pittodrie but will want to bounce back after their midweek defeat by Stuttgart.  Kyle Lafferty pulled a calf in the Champions League loss and is doubtful, as is Stevie Naismith.  Pedro Mendes and Maurice Edu are still recovering from injury.  Dons winger Peter Pawlett has signed a new 4 1/2 year deal which ties him to Pittodrie till 2014 but Mark McGhee will be without suspended Gary McDonald after his red card at Motherwell.

Celtic v St Mirren (Sunday 3pm)
Celtic, who've won just two of their last ten games, will have skipper Stephen McManus back after serving his one-match suspension, but goalkeeper Artur Boruc is still out with thigh and knee injuries.  Scott Brown is ruled out until the New Year and will visit a Dutch specialist about his ankle injury.  Saints haven't won against Celtic in the league in the last 21 meetings - since September 1989.  Saints defender John Potter hopes to be fit after a facial infection.

Hibernian v Falkirk
Falkirk haven't won any of the last eight meetings of the sides but they could come off the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League if they win and Hamilton fail to beat St Johnstone.  Hibs will be without luckless defender Kevin McCann who's been sidelined till Christmas with a hamstring problem.

Kilmarnock v Hearts
Hearts win at Rugby Park last January was their first win at Kilmarnock in six attempts.  Andy Driver scored the winner the last time the sides met, at Tynecastle in September.  Kevin Kyle had stitches inserted in a face wound sustained at Ibrox last weekend but Jim Jefferies is hoping his skipper will make it.  Csaba Laszlo is without suspended Jose Goncalves.

Motherwell v Dundee United
Goalkeeper John Ruddy has admitted he'd like to stay on when his current Fir Park loan deal expires in January.  Motherwell can close the gap on United if they win - and although Craig Levein's United have won only one of the last seven meetings of the sides, they're undefeated in six SPL games since losing to 'Well in September.  'Well have drawn four of their last five SPL games but United have received a boost with the news Garry Kenneth has returned to training after it was feared his groin injury would rule him out for two months.

St Johnstone v Hamilton Accies
Accies midfielder James McArthur is struggling after hurting back muscles while lifting weights.  His side have won only two of the last 13 meetings of the sides and are on a poor run - having won just one game of their last eight.  St Johnstone have tied up teenage strikers Stevie May and Steven Reynolds on new deals keeping them at McDiarmid Park until 2012 but they're likely to be without Martin Hardie once again.

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