Hamilton v Hearts
A good omen for Accies is that the last five meetings of the sides have ended in wins for the home side with Accies winning last season's New Douglas Park meeting 2-1 in December. Hearts continue to have Eggert Jonsson and Ryan Stevenson missing through suspension though Ismael Bouzid is available once again for the Tynecastle side.

St Johnstone v Aberdeen
Saints enter the game with defensive worries - Steven Anderson is suspended after his red card against Hearts last weekend and Danny Grainger is doubtful after being stretchered off with knee ligament damage.  Derek McInnes also has defender Dave Mackay out for three weeks after it was revealed he has a fractured bone in his back.  Saints' win over Aberdeen in March was their first in ten attempts against the Dons - and three weeks later they registered their first win at Pittodrie this century.  Aberdeen have won 60 of the 125 meetings of the sides and they have Richard Foster available again after suspension.

Celtic v St Mirren (Sunday)
The last SPL meeting of the clubs - Saints' 4-0 Paisley win in March - signalled the end of Tony Mowbray's Parkhead reign.  However since then Celtic have won their 9 SPL fixtures and history favours Lennon’s side as St Mirren have managed only two draws in their last 16 visits to Parkhead, scoring 4 goals in the process.  The Saints have taken Grimsby midfielder Nick Hegarty on trial, but new striker Gareth Wardlaw is sidelined with a groin injury and Michael Higdon sees out the last game of his suspension.  Celtic signing Dan Majstorovic is set to make his Clydesdale Bank Premier League debut in defence after his move from AEK Athens.

Dundee United v Inverness C.T. (Sunday)
Israeli striker Gil Blumenshtein is out for a month for Terry Butcher's side after coming off with a calf injury against Celtic last weekend.  Inverness are also missing Richie Foran who is recovering from injury and new signing Chris Innes is suspended.  United have won only one of the last four Tannadice meetings between the teams - when Lee Wilkie scored for both sides in October 2008.  United frontman Francisco Sandaza has moved to Swansea on trial and fellow strikers Danny Cadamarteri and Jeno Myrie-Williams have been told they can leave the club.  Danny Swanson also serves the second of his two-game ban.

Hibernian v Rangers (Sunday)
Hibs have failed to beat Rangers at home in their last ten attempts, including the last meeting in April when Kyle Lafferty's goal won Walter Smith's side their second successive Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.  John Hughes still has Ian Murray suspended, while Lee McCulloch also sits out the second game of his ban.  The game sees the opening of Easter Road's new 6500-seat East Stand.

Kilmarnock v Motherwell (Sunday)
Both sides will be aiming to bounce back after losing their opening-day fixtures.  Motherwell won all three meetings of the sides last season - but none of the four matches the season before.  Tim Clancy is still suspended for Mixu Paatelainen's outfit but they hope to have international clearance for defender Mahamadou Sissoko from Udinese.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 23 August 2010