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Ian Crocker and Andy Walker's Scottish Premiership preview

Andy Walker & Ian Crocker take you though the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures.

With just one full card of Premiership fixtures before the split, the league table has already been arranged into top and bottom halves.

Hamilton and Kilmarnock will face each other on Tuesday before the Scottish Cup semi-finals take place at Hampden next weekend.

During the week, there was some significant movement in the Premiership, even if it didn't affect the split. Ross County ended their long stay at the foot of the table with a 4-0 win over Partick Thistle, who they leapfrogged on Tuesday night.

Dundee managed to claim an unlikely point at Celtic Park on Wednesday, taking them five points clear of the bottom two sides.

At the other end of the Premiership, Rangers lost ground in the race for second without playing as Aberdeen and Hibernian both recorded victories over Motherwell and Hamilton respectively.

Sky Sports Scotland's commentary team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker bring you their predictions for this weekend's fixtures.

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Watch all the goals from Tuesday night's Scottish Premiership matches

Hearts v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player: Kenny McLean - I saw him perform to the best of his ability against Motherwell in midweek. Norwich have signed a fine player for next season.

Ian Crocker
Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player: Kenny McLean - Norwich bound at the end of the season but not going quietly.

Opta Stats

Hearts are winless in their last six Scottish Premiership meetings with Aberdeen (D3 L3), since a 1-0 win in May 2016.

The Dons have lost just one of their last six away games against Hearts (W3 D2), including a 0-0 draw in this season's reverse fixture.

The Jambos are unbeaten in their last 11 Scottish Premiership home games (W5 D6). They last went on a longer run in the top flight between January and October 2004 (16 unbeaten).

Aberdeen haven't won four consecutive Scottish Premiership games since August 2017 (a run of six).

Hearts striker Steven Naismith has only scored more top-flight goals against his current side (7) then he has against Aberdeen (6).

Partick Thistle v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Partick Thistle 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player: Adam Barton - Thistle need his quality to shine through as they struggle to avoid the drop.

Ian Crocker
Partick Thistle 1-2 Kilmarnock

Key Player: Kris Boyd - Leading from the front and rolling back the years!

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 17: Kris Boyd of Kilmarnock reacts during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Kilmarnock at Ibrox Stadium on March 17, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images).
Image: Kris Boyd is the Scottish Premiership top scorer with 15 goals so far this season

Opta Stats

Partick Thistle have lost each of their last two meetings with Kilmarnock in the Scottish top flight, shipping seven goals in the process.

Killie have not lost at Firhill since their first meeting in the Scottish Premiership, winning three and drawing seven of their last 10 visits.

Thistle are winless in eight league games (D2 L6), failing to score in each of the last four.

Kilmarnock are unbeaten in nine Scottish Premiership games (W7 D2), winning the last four in a row. It's their longest unbeaten run in the competition since October 2000 (also 9).

Conor Sammon has scored five of Partick's last eight Scottish Premiership goals.

Rangers v Dundee - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Rangers 1-0 Dundee

Key Player: Daniel Candeias - Has had a consistent season.

Ian Crocker
Rangers 2-1 Dundee

Key Player: James Tavernier - Deserving of the captain's armband of late.

Rangers' James Tavernier celebrates his goal putting them 1-0 up on Aberdeen from the penalty spot
Image: Rangers' James Tavernier (right) celebrates one of his eight goals in all competitions this season

Opta Stats

Rangers have won each of their last nine home top-flight matches against Dundee, their longest ongoing run against sides currently in the Scottish Premiership.

The Dee, however, have won two of their last three clashes with Rangers (L1), including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting in November.

Gers haven't lost three consecutive top-flight games at Ibrox since April 2001, which included a defeat against Dundee.

Only Hibernian (3) have failed to score in fewer games than Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season (5).

Mark O'Hara has scored in each of his three previous top-flight appearances against Rangers (four goals), including both goals in that 2-1 win in November.

Ross County v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Ross County 2-2 Hibernian

Key Player: Alex Schalk - County's one hope of survival.

Ian Crocker
Ross County 1-1 Hibernian

Key Player: John McGinn - Must be raring to go after serving two-match ban.

Hibernian's John McGinn (left) in action with Hearts' Harry Cochrane
Image: Hibernian's John McGinn (left) has six goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for Neil Lennon's Hibs this season

Opta Stats

Ross County have lost both league meetings with Hibs so far this season. They have never suffered three straight defeats in the Scottish Premiership against Hibernian.

There has never been a draw between these two sides at the Global Energy Stadium in the top fight, with Ross County winning three and Hibs two of their previous five clashes.

The Staggies are looking to secure back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time this season.

Hibs have scored in a league-high 29 different Scottish Premiership games this season.

Alex Schalk has been directly involved in 12 of Ross County's last 17 league goals (9 goals, 3 assists).

St Johnstone v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
St Johnstone 0-0 Motherwell

Key Player: Liam Craig - Still leading from the front for St Johnstone.

Ian Crocker
St Johnstone 0-2 Motherwell

Key Player: Curtis Main - Louis Moult is a tough act to follow but he's having a go.

04/03/18 WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER FINAL. MOTHERWELL v HEARTS (2-1). FIR PARK - MOTHERWELL. Motherwell's Curtis Main.
Image: Curtis Main has scored six goals since joining Motherwell in January

Opta Stats

St Johnstone have lost just one of their last seven top-flight meetings with Motherwell (W5 D1), although it was their most recent clash earlier this season.

The Steelmen have not won back-to-back games against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership since January 2013.

The Saints are looking to secure back-to-back home league victories for the first time since August 2017.

Motherwell have failed to score in four of their last six league games, netting just three goals in this period.

Motherwell striker Curtis Main has been directly involved in seven of their last nine league goals (five goals, two assists).

Hamilton Accies v Celtic - Sunday 12.30pm

Andy Walker
Hamilton Accies 0-2 Celtic

Key Player: Leigh Griffiths - Will soon make the tremendous target of 100 goals for Celtic.

Celtic's Stuart Armstrong is dejected after missing a chance in the second half
Image: Celtic's Stuart Armstrong missed out on the first two months of 2018 due to injury

Ian Crocker
Hamilton Accies 0-2 Celtic

Key Player- Stuart Armstrong: Back up to speed after injury lay off.

Opta Stats

Hamilton Academical have only won one of their previous 20 top-flight meetings with Celtic, with that victory coming back in October 2014.

Celtic have never lost at New Douglas Park but have twice been held to a draw there.

Hamilton have lost their past five meetings with Celtic.

Celtic have only failed to score in three of their past 38 away league games, though those three have come in their past seven on the road.

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