St Mirren v Ross County (Live on Sky Sports – Saturday 12.45pm)
It’s second-bottom against third-bottom in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with County aiming to close a four-point gap.  St Mirren have signed Newcastle midfielder Conor Newton on loan until the end of the season and are still hopeful of bringing defender Paul Dummett back even though he has returned to the English side.  Saints goalkeeper Chris Smith has extended his deal until May and they also have Legia Warsaw striker Partyk Mikita on trial.  County have signed Hibs winger Ivan Sproule, Houston Dynamo defender Andre Hainault and Greek defender Evangelos Ikonomou from Atromitos.  They’ve released striker Steven Craig, who has joined Partick Thistle.  The sides’ meetings have reflected both ends of the goal total – Saints won 5-4 in September while the November meeting ended goalless.

Celtic v Hearts
Celtic have signed defender Rami Gershon on loan from Standard Liege until the end of the season.  Kelvin Wilson misses out as he starts a two-game suspension – as is also the case with Hearts’ Ryan Stevenson.  Hearts also have skipper Marius Zaliukas suspended and have also released goalkeeper Peter Enckleman.  Celtic, who are nine points ahead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, have won the last five league meetings of the sides without conceding a goal.

Hibernian v Dundee
Dens skipper Stephen O’Donnell is out until the end of the season with a torn cruciate while Hibs’ Paul Cairney is suspended.  Hibs duo Leigh Griffiths and Ryan McGivern have had their loans extended until the end of the season.  Dundee’s win over Hibs in November was their first in ten games against the Edinburgh side but they have taken only one point out of their seven games since.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Aberdeen
Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher rejected the chance to become Barnsley manager during the winter break and his side have signed defender Danny Devine from Fleetwood Town.  Dons youngster Ryan Fraser is a target for Bournemouth.  Caley Thistle have lost only one of their last twenty matches while Aberdeen have lost four of their last seven Clydesdale Bank Premier League games.

Kilmarnock v Dundee United
Killie have signed Nigerian midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim from Celtic but have sold Liam Kelly to Bristol City and Michael Nelson to Bradford City.  United will be missing defender Brian McLean through suspension.  Seven of the last eleven meetings of the clubs have ended drawn – including the Tannadice clash in November when United came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3.

Motherwell v St Johnstone (Live on ESPN – Sunday 2.15pm)
Motherwell have sold striker Jamie Murphy to Sheffield United, but Fraser Kerr’s loan from Birmingham has been extended until the end of the season and Kallum Higginbotham has joined on loan from Huddersfield.  Saints have signed Ross County’s Richard Brittain on a pre-contract which will see him move to Perth this summer.  Defender Steven Anderson is out for six weeks after a cartilage operation and Craig Beattie has returned to the club following a trial at Notts County, while Jamie Adams needs a back operation and is out until the end of the season.  Motherwell are unbeaten in the last five meetings of the sides but Saints have lost only one of their last seven games.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 17 January 2013