Four rearranged fixtures make up Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership match card, with significant points on offer in both halves of the table.
All eight teams will turn their attention to the Scottish Cup this weekend and will be eager to build or maintain confidence for those fixtures and their return to the league at the end of the month.
Here’s what to watch out for…
Match of the Day – Kilmarnock v Rangers
These two teams return to the league at Rugby Park after contrasting fortunes in the League Cup semi-finals, but both are expected to come into the game buoyed by their performances.
Rangers for the most obvious reasons. The Ibrox side, who are second in the Premiership, are now nine games unbeaten after what becomes a regular fight back to win from behind, this time after extra time against Aberdeen.
Kilmarnock missed meeting Michael Beale’s side in next month’s final at Hampden after suffering their second 2-0 loss to Celtic in a week. However, in both games they showed they could upset the league leaders.
In their absence from Premiership action, Kilmarnock fell to second bottom behind Dundee United on goal difference, but manager Derek McInnes will be glad they posed a threat at the national stadium.
Rangers have lost on four of their last six league visits to Rugby Park, where Kilmarnock have lost just one of their last nine and the Ibrox side have won just three times in 11 outings.
However, to deal a blow to Glasgow’s title hopes on this occasion, the Ayrshire side will need to end a four-game losing streak against Rangers – all without scoring a goal.
Player to Watch – Garang Kuol (Heart of Midlothian)
By his own admission, Garang Kuol had a surreal few months before and including his loan move to Hearts.
The 18-year-old Egyptian-born striker signed a pre-contract deal with Newcastle United in September – just five months after making his senior debut for Central Coast Mariners.
Then, after two substitute appearances for Australia in the World Cup final in Qatar, he was immediately sent north by the Premier League club once the January transfer window opened.
Kuol made an equally instant impression in his first 15-minute cameo as a substitute as Hearts beat St Mirren on Friday. Could he get more playing time against Aberdeen?
Manager in the spotlight – Stephen Robinson (St Mirren)
Carlo Ancelotti. Mark Rose. Stephane Robinson. The only three managers to win over Celtic this season.
St Mirren’s historic 2-0 victory at Paisley in mid-September was emblematic of what has been an impressive campaign so far. However, Robinson’s side have not won since Christmas Eve and it was their first win since October.
Three draws in recent weeks have turned them around in terms of the draw, but Hearts and Livingston set the tone.
Ancelotti and Rose have beaten Celtic twice this season and, for Robinson to be added to this list, St Mirren will need to produce an even better performance than their home win against Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Celtic’s league record at home this season is 10 played, 10 won. Indeed, it was early May – last season – when the champions last dropped points in east Glasgow.
If St Mirren avoid defeat, they will have set another benchmark.
