Tuesday 12 December 2017 16:46, UK
The festive period’s feast of football is ramping up more and more as we get closer to Christmas.
Just days on from Hibernian's fightback against Celtic, we have a full midweek card of Scottish Premiership fixtures to get stuck into.
On Tuesday Kilmarnock make the trip to face second-bottom Ross County having just put five past Partick Thistle, who find themselves rooted to the foot of the table.
Hearts welcome a former Scottish Cup winner with the club back into the opposing dugout as Neil McCann brings his Dundee side down the M90 on Tuesday.
After coming within a Mikael Lustig goal-line clearance of ending Celtic's unbeaten domestic run, Neil Lennon will prepare his Hibs side for a second visit of the Old Firm in four days when Rangers come calling on Wednesday night - live on Sky Football.
Also on Wednesday Aberdeen travel to St Johnstone on the same number of points as Rangers in second place after both sides recorded respective victories over the weekend.
A win for Alan Archibald's side over Motherwell at home can only take them to within a point of Dundee and Ross County, should they fail to pick any points up in their matches.
The final match of the midweek card see Champions Celtic host Hamilton Accies, who suffered their first defeat for seven matches against St Johnstone on Saturday.
As usual Ian Crocker and Andy Walker are on hand to bring you their predictions and players to watch this Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hearts v Dundee- Tuesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
Hearts 1-1 Dundee
Key Player - Kyle Lafferty
Scruffy goal at the weekend but looking dangerous again.
Ian Crocker
Hearts 1-1 Dundee
Key Player - Jamie Brandon
Promising teenager back from a ban and raring to go at Tynecastle.
Opta Stats
Hearts have lost just two of their last 16 home Scottish Premiership matches against Dundee (W12 D2) having lost each of the previous two.
The Dee have won two of the last three matches played between these two sides in the top flight (L1), however they have only won one of their last nine such matches at Tynecastle Park (D2 L6).
Hearts' Kyle Lafferty has scored six goals from eight shots on target in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Dundee are looking to win back-to-back away games in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since May 2017.
Ross County v Kilmarnock - Tuesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
Ross County 1-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Eamon Brophy
Alongside Kris Boyd, a real goal threat for Stevie Clark's men.
Ian Crocker
Ross County 1-2 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Eamonn Brophy
Often a serial sub in his career so it looks like he'll benefit from a run of starts alongside Kris Boyd.
Opta Stats
Ross County have won nine of their last 11 Scottish Premiership matches against Kilmarnock (L2) previously the Staggies had beaten Killie just once in eight top flight meetings (D2 L5).
Killie ended a run of three consecutive away defeats against Ross County the last time the two sides met at the Global Energy Stadium in the league.
Ross County have won just one of their last seven in league competition (D2 L4), losing three of the last four.
Killie have won their last two league games by an aggregate scoreline of 7-2 they last won three on the spin in the top-flight back in October 2014.
Celtic v Hamilton Accies - Wednesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
Celtic 4-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - James Forrest
The most productive player in the Premiership so far this season, tremendous contribution for the Champions.
Ian Crocker
Celtic 2-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Scott Sinclair
Not quite hit the considerable heights of last season but still scored goals galore and still a match winner.
Opta Stats
Celtic have won 16 of their 19 matches against Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L1), with aggregate scoreline of 48-9 in those games.
The Accies have picked up just three out of a possible 30 points on offer from their trips to Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership (W1 L9), failing to score in seven of those matches.
Celtic are unbeaten in each of their last 55 Scottish Premiership games (W46 D9) last losing back in May 2016 vs St. Johnstone.
Hamilton are unbeaten in their last three away league games, winning two (D1). They had won just two of their previous 25.
Hibernian v Rangers - Live on Sky Football - Wednesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
Hibernian 2-1 Rangers
Key Player - John McGinn
Hibs should enjoy his presence just now, looks likely he'll move in January.
Ian Crocker
Hibernian 2-2 Rangers
Key Player - Oli Shaw
Has come on and scored against Celtic in the Premiership and League Cup. A bright and lively presence. He's got something.
Opta Stats
Hibs have won just two of their last 18 matches against Rangers in the top flight (D3 L13) the last time the two sides met in the Scottish Premiership, Hibs ended a run of four straight defeats against Rangers with a 3-2 victory at Ibrox.
Rangers have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine matches against Hibs, scoring in all but one of those matches.
Rangers' Daniel Candeias has provided more assists than any other player in the Scottish top-flight this season (6).
Hibs have lost just once in their last eight top-flight matches, winning five and drawing two. They had won just once in the seven games beforehand.
Partick Thistle v Motherwell - Wednesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
Partick Thistle 0-1 Motherwell
Key Player - Louis Moult
Could be set to sign a pre-contract with Preston, terrific player for Motherwell.
Ian Crocker
Partick Thistle 0-0 Motherwell
Key Player - Tomas Cerny
Thistle keeper picked a few out the net at Kilmarnock and could be tested again.
Opta Stats
Partick Thistle have won seven of their nine home matches against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L1), keeping six clean sheets in the process.
Motherwell have lost just one of their last five matches against Partick Thistle in the league (W3 D1), scoring nine and conceding just three goals in those games.
Partick Thistle have kept just two clean sheets in their last 22 matches in the Scottish Premiership.
Motherwell have lost consecutive away league games, having won three of the four beforehand (L1).
St Johnstone v Aberdeen - Wednesday 7.45pm
Andy Walker
St Johnstone 1-3 Aberdeen
Key Player - Scott McKenna
Establishing himself as first-choice centre back for a resurgent Dons side.
Ian Crocker
St Johnstone 0-2 Aberdeen
Key Player - Scott McKenna
Relishing a run in the team and certainly in there on merit. A commanding presence.
Opta Stats-
St. Johnstone have never beaten Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership during the month of December (P5 D1 L4), scoring just one goal in those five matches.
Aberdeen have lost just one of their last five top flight matches against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park (W2 D2), despite scoring fewer goals (seven) than they have conceded (eight) in those five games.
The Dons have lost only one of their last 14 away games in the Scottish Premiership, going down 0-3 away to Rangers in November (W11 D2).
St. Johnstone are winless in four home league games, conceding nine and scoring just one (D1 L3).
