St Mirren v Celtic (12.30)
Clydesdale Bank Premier League table-toppers Celtic have won 25 of the last 29 SPL meetings of the sides and have now won twelve games in a row.  Polish defender Jaroslaw Fojut will join Celtic from Slask Wroclaw in the summer after agreeing a three-year deal, while defender Josh Thompson has joined Chesterfield on loan.  St Mirren’s midweek Scottish Cup replay win over Hamilton was their first victory in five games.

?Dundee United v Motherwell
This is the 200th meeting of the sides and United have won only two of the last nine meetings – ‘Well won on their last visit to Tannadice in October.  Striker Lauri Dalla Valle has returned to Fulham after his loan move to United, while manager Peter Houston serves the second game of his suspension.  Motherwell could give a first start to Estonian frontman Henrik Ojamaa after he impressed in his two substitute appearances so far.

Hibernian v St Johnstone
Sean O’Hanlon returns for Hibs after suspension, while Pat Fenlon has signed Norwich defender George Francomb on loan.  Saints have had former Motherwell and Dundee United defender Jim Paterson training with them and they have completed the loan signings of Lee Croft and Jack Compton from Derby County and Falkirk respectively.  Hibs have won only one of the last nine meetings of the sides.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hearts
Richie Foran returns for Caley Thistle after suspension while Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas is banned following his red card against St Mirren but Ryan McGowan is available again.  Inverness C.T. have signed Bradford City defender Steve Williams on loan, while Hearts striker Kevin Kyle faces further surgery on a hip injury later this month.  Caley Thistle haven’t beaten Hearts since December 2007 – and three of the last four meetings have ended in 1-1 draws.

Kilmarnock v Dunfermline Athletic
Kilmarnock’s hopes of signing striker Derek Riordan, who’s been training with them, suffered a blow with manager Kenny Shiels admitting he was likely to move to the continent – he’s also understood to have turned out for Blackpool in a midweek closed-door game.  Killie, however have former Aberdeen midfielder Mark Kerr training with them and have signed Chelsea defender Ben Gordon and Michael Nelson of Scunthorpe on loan, as well as completing a deal for Dean Shiels following his release from Doncaster Rovers.  Dunfermline, who are four points adrift at the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, have won only one of the last nine league meetings of the sides, while the midweek Scottish Cup replay win over Dundee means Killie have gone four games unbeaten.  Midfielder Gary Harkins is likely to stay in the side after setting up both goals in the win over the First Division outfit.

Rangers v Aberdeen
Rangers welcome back midfielder Lee McCulloch who returns following his two match suspension.  Defender Russell Anderson has rejoined the Dons on a deal until the end of next season, while Gers have announced skipper David Weir will be leaving the club, and that Blackpool and Sheffield United are after a loan move for John Fleck.  They also have Honduran midfielder Jorge Claros and Estonian defender Enar Jaager on trial.  Aberdeen haven’t won at Ibrox in the SPL since September 1991 – they’ve gone 37 games without victory there.  However the on-form Dons have lost only one of their last eight games.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 19 January 2012