Celtic and Rangers will both look to return to winning ways at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Boxing Day.
Top two bid to return to winning ways
Celtic and Rangers will both look to return to winning ways at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Boxing Day.
Gordon Strachan's Celtic side, who currently occupy top spot, were held to a 1-1 home draw with Hibernian at the weekend but they will hope to bounce back against Dundee United.
Meanwhile, second placed Rangers battled to a point against Aberdeen on Sunday and they will hope for a maximum haul against Motherwell.
Bottom of the league Gretna will hope to continue their bid for a great escape as they host Aberdeen, while Falkirk meet Inverness.
Elsewhere, Hearts welcome St Mirren to Tynecastle and Hibernian travel to Kilmarnock.
United manager Craig Levein is expected to stick with youngster Euan McLean in goal at the expense of Grzegorz Szamotulski, who is set to leave in the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, Lee Wilkie will return from suspension, but Christian Kalvenes (hamstring), Lukasz Zaluska (foot) and Keith Watson (knee) are expected to miss out.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has no new injury worries following the home draw with Hibernian on Saturday.
But goalkeeper Artur Boruc, defenders Mark Wilson, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe and John Kennedy, plus midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura remain on the sidelines.
Defender Gerard Aafjes could return for Falkirk in place of the suspended Darren Barr ahead of the visit of Inverness.
Barr is set to begin a two-match suspension and Aafjes will fill in if he has recovered from the foot injury that kept him out of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Motherwell.
Inverness striker Dennis Wyness could return from the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last three games, while David Proctor is still suspended following his red card in the recent 3-2 victory over Celtic.
Martin Canning is close to his comeback for Gretna after his long-term knee injury.
The midfielder was ruled out of last Saturday's win over Dundee United, but Canning is expected to soon be available and could be back in action. Uruguayan forward Fabian Yantorno returned to the starting line-up from suspension last weekend and is again expected to feature.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood hauled off Scott Severin and Andy Considine at half-time in Sunday's draw with Rangers in a bid to avoid injury and a red card but the pair are expected to start.
Jackie McNamara (hamstring), Darren Mackie (ankle), Jeffrey de Visscher (foot) and Derek Young (hamstring and illness) are all struggling.
Hearts will be without goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis (suspended), while Andrius Ksanavicius is a doubt.
Midfielder Michael Stewart will return from suspension, but Hristos Karipidis and Laryea Kingston are both out injured.
Striker Craig Dargo could again start as he continues to build his match fitness for St Mirren, however Saints boss Gus MacPherson may decide to revert to a single striker with Billy Mehmet in contention.
Hugh Murray is likely to play his final game before beginning a two-match suspension, but Will Haining, Stephen O'Donnell and Richard Brittain are all banned.
Frazer Wright, who missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with St Mirren is a doubt and Killmarnock manager Jim Jefferies must decide on his fitness.
Meanwhile, utility player Tim Clancy recovered from the flu to take a place on the bench at the weekend and could start.
Hibs' caretaker boss Tommy Craig has revealed that Abdessalam Benjelloun and David Murphy will miss the clash with Kilmarnock.
Benjelloun and Murphy, who scored Hibs' goal in their 1-1 draw with Celtic, suffered hamstring injuries at Celtic Park and have been forced onto the sidelines.
Lee McCulloch will miss the visit of Motherwell following his red card against Aberdeen.
The midfielder is set to serve his suspension, but manager Walter Smith will hope for a return of striker Jean-Claude Darcheville, who missed that game because of a family bereavement.
Meanwhile, Nacho Novo, DaMarcus Beasley, Andy Webster and Steven Smith are all unavailable.
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee has no fresh injury problems after his players came through Saturday's defeat to Falkirk unscathed and he could name an unchanged side.
