(Current league positions in brackets)
Saturday
Falkirk (12) v Hamilton (11)
Falkirk have seven players missing for the clash with Hamilton but new signing Pedro Pele will be on the bench. Alex MacDonald (groin), Sean Lynch (hamstring) and Mark Stewart (stomach) have been added to the injury list. They join Jackie McNamara, Kjartan Finnbogason (both knee), Burton O'Brien (hernia) and Tam Scobbie (pelvis).
Hamilton manager Billy Reid has no fresh injury worries but he will be without the suspended Guillaume Beuzelin. Alex Neil will be in the squad after completing 45 minutes of a reserves match earlier in the week. The Accies skipper has yet to feature in a first team game this season after undergoing hip surgery in the summer. Long-term casualties Derek Lyle and James Gibson both remain on the sidelines.
Last season: Hamilton 0 Falkirk 1, Falkirk 1 Hamilton 2, Hamilton 1 Falkirk 1, Falkirk 4 Hamilton 1
Last five league matches: Falkirk L L D L D; Hamilton L D L W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Kjartan Finnbogason, Carl Finnigan & Ryan Flynn (Falkirk) 2; Mickael Antoine-Curier (Hamilton) 6
Referee: M Tumilty (Scotland).
Hearts (8) v St Johnstone (9)
Hearts will be without Andrew Driver (knee) and Jamie Mole (ankle). Calum Elliot is finally back from a knee operation, while Eggert Jonsson returns from suspension. Marius Zaliukas (ankle), Suso Santana (hernia) and David Templeton (foot) remain out, and Laryea Kingston (hamstring) is still building up to full fitness.
St Johnstone midfielder Martin Hardie will miss out with a knee ligament injury. The game has come too early for striker Steven Milne who is recovering from an ankle injury. There are doubts over Graham Gartland (shoulder), Steven Anderson (back), Danny Grainger (thigh) and Kenny Deuchar (groin).
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hearts L D D L D; St Johnstone W L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Michael Stewart (Hearts) 3; Collin Samuel (St Johnstone) 6
Referee: S O'Reilly (Scotland).
Motherwell (5) v Aberdeen (6)
Motherwell winger Chris Humphrey will miss out with an ankle injury that could sideline him for six weeks. But Stevie Hammell (hamstring), Yassin Moutaouakil and goalkeeper John Ruddy (both groin) should return. Shaun Hutchinson (hamstring) remains out while Darren Smith, Paul Slane and Marc Fitzpatrick continue their rehabilitation following surgery.
Aberdeen's Chris Maguire is banned and team-mate Sone Aluko has not overcome a stomach problem. Zander Diamond (ankle) remains on the sidelines but Maurice Ross comes back after a ban and Fraser Fyvie may return from an ankle injury.
Last season: Motherwell 1 Aberdeen 1, Aberdeen 2 Motherwell 0, Motherwell 0 Aberdeen 1
Last five league matches: Motherwell W D D W D; Aberdeen D D L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Ross Forbes (Motherwell) 8; Charlie Mulgrew (Aberdeen) 3
Referee: A Crawford (Scotland).
Rangers (2) v Kilmarnock (10)
Madjid Bougherra is unlikely to be involved for Rangers as the defender has been on international duty helping Algeria qualify for the World Cup finals. DaMarcus Beasley is struggling with a hamstring strain and will miss the visit of Killie. Steven Whittaker has recovered from a hamstring injury but Pedro Mendes is still sidelined with a knee problem.
Kilmarnock's injury worries are clearing up after Mark Burchill and Allan Russell took part in two closed-door games during the international break which allowed them to top up their fitness following returns from an Achilles operation and a broken hand respectively. Defender Simon Ford is back in training following a knee operation but the game has come too early for him.
Last season: Rangers 3 Kilmarnock 1, Kilmarnock 0 Rangers 4, Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 1
Last five league matches: Rangers D W W D W; Kilmarnock D L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Kris Boyd (Rangers) 7; Kevin Kyle (Kilmarnock) 6
Referee: A Muir (Scotland).
St Mirren (7) v Hibernian (3)
St Mirren defender Lee Mair returns from suspension. Striker Craig Dargo has recovered from the shoulder problem that saw him miss the last four games and Allan Johnston is over the groin injury that forced him out of the last two matches and both will be assessed before the game. Mo Camara, who has been sidelined since August, is back following knee surgery but nowhere near fit enough for the visit of the Easter Road side.
Hibernian hope Liam Miller (calf) and Merouane Zemmama (groin) will recover from injuries after they were forced to miss crucial qualifying matches for the Republic of Ireland and Morocco respectively. Hibs boss John Hughes will assess the fitness of defender Sol Bamba and Anthony Stokes, who were on international duty in midweek, while Kevin McCann's troublesome hamstring problem is set to keep him out.
Last season: St Mirren 1 Hibernian 1, Hibernian 2 St Mirren 0, St Mirren 0 Hibernian 0
Last five league matches: St Mirren W W D L L; Hibernian D W D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 8; Derek Riordan (Hibernian) 5
Referee: W Collum (Scotland).
Sunday
Dundee Utd (4) v Celtic (1)
Dundee united could have defender Garry Kenneth back. The former Scotland Under-21 man was ruled out for up to eight weeks with a groin problem only 10 days ago but has made rapid progress and returned to light training yesterday and could make the bench. Long-term injury absentees Jon Daly (knee), Francisco Sandaza (groin), Kevin Smith (ankle), Lee Wilkie (knee) and Scott Robertson (groin) are all missing.
Celtic skipper Stephen McManus is suspended for the clash with Dundee United. Manager Tony Mowbray is still without long-term absentees Artur Boruc, Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney. Josh Thompson may make his debut if Glenn Loovens, who had to come off with a groin strain in the 3-3 draw with Falkirk in Celtic's last game, fails to recover.
Last season: Celtic 2 Dundee Utd 1, Dundee Utd 2 Celtic 2, Celtic 2 Dundee Utd 2, Dundee Utd 1 Celtic 1
Last five league matches: Dundee Utd W D D W W; Celtic L D W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Damian Casalinuovo (Dundee Utd) 6; Scott McDonald (Celtic) 10
Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).
