Saturday, September 27
Celtic (2) v Aberdeen (8)
Celtic midfielder Barry Robson is struggling to recover from a groin injury, while defender Gary Caldwell serves a one-match ban, so Glenn Loovens will partner Stephen McManus in the heart of the Hoops' defence.
Andrew Considine and Jamie Smith are Aberdeen's only absentees. Smith (calf) should be available for the visit of Hibernian, while Considine will return to training next week after a shoulder injury.
Last season: Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0, Aberdeen 1 Celtic 5, Celtic 3 Aberdeen 0, Aberdeen 1 Celtic 3
Last five league matches: Celtic D W L W W; Aberdeen W D W L L
Top scorers: Georgios Samaras (Celtic) 9; Gary McDonald (Aberdeen) 2
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: E Smith (Scotland).
Dundee Utd (10) v Hearts (3)
Dundee United's Jon Daly is available again following the birth of his daughter and is likely to start, while Roy O'Donovan and Warren Feeney have shrugged off injuries.
Midfielder Willo Flood has recovered from a hamstring strain and is also pushing for a place in the side but Michael Kovacevic (sore jaw) is a doubt.
Striker Mike Tullberg and midfielder Bruno Aguiar are in the Hearts squad after recovering from injuries.
Danish forward Tullberg could make his long-awaited debut, probably from the bench, after recovering from a torn thigh muscle while Aguiar has finally shaken off ankle and knee problems.
Last season: Hearts 1 Dundee Utd 0, Dundee Utd 4 Hearts 1, Hearts 1 Dundee Utd 3
Last five league matches: Dundee Utd D D L L W; Hearts L W W L W
Top scorers: Jon Daly & David Goodwillie (Dundee Utd) 3; Michael Stewart (Hearts) 3
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).
Falkirk (12) v Hamilton (6)
Falkirk leg-break victim Dean Holden returned to full training in midweek but is still several weeks away from a first-team comeback.
Midfielder Russell Latapy has recovered from the ankle knock that has hampered him for over a month, while playmaker Arnau Riera has also returned to training following a knee injury.
Hamilton defender Martin Canning, cup-tied for Hamilton's extra-time win at Motherwell on Wednesday, returns. Boss Billy Reid has "one or two niggles" and will make a late decision on those affected.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Falkirk L L L W D; Hamilton W L L W L
Top scorers: Michael Higdon (Falkirk) 3; David Graham (Hamilton) 3
Match odds: H 21-20 A 21-10 D 11-5
Referee: M Tumilty (Scotland).
Inverness (7) v Kilmarnock (5)
Inverness striker Andy Barrowman is available after suspension, meaning David Proctor (ankle) is the Highlanders' only other absentee.
Killie defender Garry Hay has a knee injury but midfielder Danny Invincibile has recovered from a knock and Conor Sammon is battling to recover from a dead leg in time.
Last season: Inverness 3 Kilmarnock 0, Kilmarnock 4 Inverness 1, Inverness 3 Kilmarnock 1, Kilmarnock 2 Inverness 2
Last five league matches: Inverness L D W L L; Kilmarnock D W W L L
Top scorers: Don Cowie & Douglas Imrie (Inverness) 2; Conor Sammon, Mehdi Taouil & Frazer Wright (Kilmarnock) 2
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: B Winter (Scotland).
Motherwell (11) v St Mirren (9)
Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan picked up a groin injury in the midweek CIS Cup defeat to Hamilton, while midfielder Stephen Hughes has been troubled by a leg knock - and boss Mark McGhee says he will not risk players who are "not 100 per cent" ahead of the UEFA Cup match against Nancy. Striker Chris Porter is banned.
St Mirren forward Craig Dargo has injured a knee and will be on the sidelines alongside defender Will Haining (calf). Andy Dorman is expected to be back in the squad but David Barron and Stephen O'Donnell are still out with knee injuries.
Last season: St Mirren 3 Motherwell 1, Motherwell 1 St Mirren 1, St Mirren 0 Motherwell 1
Last five league matches: Motherwell L D W L L; St Mirren D L L W D
Top scorers: David Clarkson (Motherwell) 4; Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 6
Match odds: H 4-5 A 23-10 D 11-4
Referee: S Conroy (Scotland).
Sunday, September 28
Hibernian (4) v Rangers (1)
Hibs winger Alan O'Brien is sidelined for up to six weeks following knee surgery, while striker Colin Nish is doubtful with an ankle knock.
Full-backs Kevin McCann and Thierry Gathuessi are injured but striker Steven Fletcher has recovered from a virus and Sol Bamba is available after suspension.
Andrius Velicka and Lee McCulloch are available for Rangers. Velicka has recovered from a bug while McCulloch has returned to training following a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Steven Whittaker is having an injection in a cyst behind his knee in a bid to overcome his early-season injury problems.
Last season: Hibernian 0 Rangers 0, Rangers 2 Hibernian 1, Hibernian 1 Rangers 2, Rangers 0 Hibernian 1
Last five league matches: Hibernian W D L W W; Rangers W D W W W
Top scorers: Colin Nish (Hibernian) 3; Kris Boyd (Rangers) 4
Match odds: H 7-2 A 8-13 D 5-2
Referee: C Murray (Scotland).
