Friday 27 April 2018 16:46, UK
As the season end approaches the must-win matches seem to come thicker and faster than before, with something hanging on almost every three points played for.
Not only that, this week we also learned the nominations for the PFA Scotland annual awards.
The Player, Manager & Young Player of the Year awards will be dished out at the annual ceremony this coming Sunday night, with fans also able to vote for their Goal of the Season from the 10-man shortlist.
But before then all twelve Premiership clubs are in action with just four matches left to play in the 2017/18 Premiership season.
Celtic could clinch the title with a win at home to Old Firm rivals Rangers on Sunday - Live on Sky Sports. Brendan Rodgers side will only need a single point to secure their 7th straight Premiership if Aberdeen fail to take three points against Hearts on Friday night.
Eyes are likely to be on the Celtic Park stands to see whether Steven Gerrard is present to watch over the side he could potentially inherit from Graeme Murty.
Hibs are just two points behind Rangers and Aberdeen in the fight for second place and are unbeaten in 10 as they welcome Kilmarnock to Easter Road.
At the other end of the table there are crucial matches for Ross County, Hamilton and Partick Thistle. Just three points separate the bottom trio after County's recent run of form which has seen them draw twice and win once in their last three.
That form saw Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell awarded with the permanent co-managers position in Dingwall earlier this week. They take the trip down the A9 to face Hamilton Accies - Live on Sky Sports - for the early kick-off on Saturday.
Partick Thistle recorded their first win in nine league games against Accies last week. They are just one point ahead of the automatic relegation place as they travel to St Johnstone.
Aberdeen v Hearts - Friday 7.45pm
Andy Walker-
Aberdeen 1-1 Hearts
Key Player- Scott McKenna
Tremendous debut season, made his debut for Scotland & nominated by his peers in PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
Ian Crocker-
Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts
Key Player- Adam Rooney
Maybe pitched in against the resilient and brilliant Berra and Co at some point.
Opta Stats-
Aberdeen are winless in their last three Scottish Premiership matches against Hearts (D2 L1), failing to score in all three of those matches.
However, Hearts themselves have failed to score in their last three trips to Aberdeen in the top flight, drawing two and losing the other.
Aberdeen have lost just one of their last eight league matches on home soil (W6 D1), keeping clean sheets in half of those games.
Hearts have won just one of their last 10 league games away from home (D4 L5), and are winless in their previous six on the road (D2 L4).
Kenny McClean has been directly involved in three of Aberdeen's previous four goals in the Scottish Premiership (two goals, one assist).
Hamilton Accies v Ross County - Live on Sky Football Saturday 12pm
Andy Walker-
Hamilton Accies 0-1 Ross County
Key Player- Scott Fox
County need a strong defensive performance in these crucial relegation games, does Fox have the mentality to play to the best of his ability when it matters?
Ian Crocker-
Hamilton Accies 1-1 Ross County
Key Player- David Templeton
Of all the players on the pitch he could be the one for a moment that matters.
Opta Stats-
Despite avoiding defeat in their previous two Scottish Premiership games against Ross County (W1 D1), the Accies have won just two of their last 12 against them in the top-flight (D4 L6).
The Staggies have won just one of their six trips to Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L3), winning 3-1 back in December 2015.
Hamilton have lost six consecutive Scottish Premiership games for the third time in the club's history - they have never lost seven on the bounce in the competition.
However, Ross County themselves have won just one of their last eight league games (D4 L3).
Alex Schalk has been directly involved in 13 of Ross County's previous 18 Scottish Premiership goals (nine goals, four assists).
Hibernian v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Hibernian 1-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player- Kris Boyd
What an honour at this stage of his career to be nominated for PFA Scotland Player of the Year. Well deserved.
Ian Crocker-
Hibernian 2-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player- Dylan McGeouch
Outstanding season from Dylan and from Hibs. Hope we don't lose him from Scotland!
Opta Stats-
Hibs are unbeaten in their last three Scottish Premiership matches against Killie (W1 D2), losing just one of their previous 11 games against them in the competition (W5 D5).
However, Kilmarnock have avoided defeat in each of their last two trips to Hibernian in the league (W1 D1), losing just one of their previous four matches at Easter Road in the competition (W1 D2).
Hibernian are currently enjoying a 10 games unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership (W7 D3), their longest unbeaten run in the competition since going a club record 12 consecutive games without defeat between September and December 2009.
Kilmarnock's 0-2 home defeat to Aberdeen last time out ended an 11 game unbeaten run for Killie - they last lost consecutive league games in August 2017 (a run of five straight defeats stretching across two seasons).
Kris Boyd has now scored in 14 different Scottish Premiership matches this season, two more than any other player (Alfredo Morelos, 12).
Motherwell v Dundee - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Motherwell 1-0 Dundee
Key Player- Ryan Bowman
Alongside Curtis Main up front, the pair are a handful for most defences.
Ian Crocker-
Motherwell 1-1 Dundee
Key Player- Glen Kamara
Former Arsenal rookie has been a constant and consistent performer.
Opta Stats-
Motherwell have won two of their last three Scottish Premiership matches against Dundee (D1) - as many victories as in their previous 14 top flight games against them (W2 D3 L9).
The Dee are unbeaten in their previous four trips to Motherwell (W2 D2), losing just one of their last eight visits to Fir Park (W3 D4).
Motherwell are without a win in their previous six league games (D4 L2), drawing each of their previous two 0-0 - the Steelmen have never drawn three consecutive Scottish Premiership games by a 0-0 scoreline.
Dundee ended a run of six league games without a victory last time out against St. Johnstone (2-1) - the Dee last won back to back league games back in December.
Curtis Main has been directly involved in seven of Motherwell's last nine Scottish Premiership goals (five goals, two assists).
St Johnstone v Partick Thistle - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
St Johnstone 1-1 Partick Thistle
Key Player- Chris Erskine: Thought he was excellent last weekend in such a huge win over Hamilton, Thistle have to keep it going.
Ian Crocker-
St Johnstone 1-2 Partick Thistle
Key Player- Kris Doolan
Back to the tried and tested for Thistle and Doolan is a proper striker.
Opta Stats-
St. Johnstone have lost back to back league games against Partick Thistle, having won four of their previous five against them in the top flight (L1).
The Thistle have won four of their last six trips to St. Johnstone (L2), despite failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their nine visits to McDiarmid Park.
St. Johnstone have lost just one of their previous five league games on home soil (W2 D2), this after having lost six of their previous eight games at McDiarmid Park (D2 L6).
The Thistle ended a run of nine league games without a victory, beating Hamilton 2-1 last time out - Partick have failed to win back to back league games this season, last doing so over a year ago in March 2017 (run of three straight wins).
Both Partick Thistle and St. Johnstone have the two lowest scoring top goal scorers in the division with both Conor Sammon for Partick and Steven MacLean scoring six each.
Celtic v Rangers - Live on Sky Football Sunday 11.30am
Andy Walker-
Celtic 1-0 Rangers
Key Player- Callum McGregor
A tremendous season for McGregor, he's a trusted player in this white-hot atmosphere.
Ian Crocker-
Celtic 3-2 Rangers
Key Player- Moussa Dembele
7 goals in 9 Old Firm games but then a few at Celtic enjoy a derby day strike.
Opta Stats-
Celtic are unbeaten in their last eight Scottish Premiership matches against Rangers (W6 D2), winning by a 5-1 score line in two of those games.
Rangers have won just one of their last 10 trips to Celtic Park in the top-flight (D4 L5), a 3-1 victory back in October 2010.
Celtic lost their third league game of the season against Hibernian last time out (1-2); however, all three defeats have come away from home with their last defeat in the league at Celtic Park coming back in December 2015 (P45 W35 D10 since).
Rangers have lost just two of their last 21 league games away from home (W14 D5), having lost three consecutive away matches prior to this run.
Daniel Candeias has been directly involved in four of Rangers last five Scottish Premiership goals (two goals, two assists).
