Eurosport - Fri, 27 Feb 16:45:00 2009
Rangers are still without striker Nacho Novo as they travel to Hamilton looking to consolidate their place at the top of the SPL table.
Saturday
Aberdeen (5) v Kilmarnock (10)
Aberdeen midfielder Sone Aluko could be ruled out because of flu but winger Jamie Smith is back in the squad after missing the majority of the season so far through injury. Richard Foster also returns after being dropped for last week's 2-2 draw with Dundee United following a bust-up with Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood. But defender Andrew Considine (groin) and midfielder Gary McDonald (hip) will both miss out.
Kilmarnock have been boosted by the return of David Fernandez, who is available after a three-match suspension. Boss Jim Jefferies will make a late decision on Danny Invincibile, who is back in training after missing three games with an ankle injury, but Frazer Wright remains a doubt with a knee injury.
Last season: Kilmarnock 3 Aberdeen 1, Aberdeen 2 Kilmarnock 1, Kilmarnock 0 Aberdeen 1
Last five league matches: Aberdeen W D L L D; Kilmarnock L L D D L
Top scorers: Lee Miller (Aberdeen) 10; Kevin Kyle (Kilmarnock) 6
Referee: D McDonald (Scotland)
Celtic (2) v St Mirren (9)
Simon Ferry has been rewarded for his performances in training this week with a place in the Celtic squad. The 21-year-old midfielder, who has been plagued with injury for almost three years, is joined by fellow youngster Ryan Conroy, who impressed in the reserves in midweek. Paddy McCourt and Koki Mizuno have both joined Shaun Maloney on the sidelines with hamstring complaints and Barry Robson is still out with a groin injury.
St Mirren defender Will Haining is set for his first appearance for three months but Scott Cuthbert misses out under the terms of his loan deal from Celtic. Left-back Mo Camara looks certain to face his former team, with Franco Miranda (knee) and Steven Robb (hamstring) still out. Marc McAusland (muscle strain) is also missing while Stephen O'Donnell and Tom Brighton are continuing their rehab programmes.
Last season: St Mirren 0 Celtic 1, Celtic 1 St Mirren 1, St Mirren 1 Celtic 5
Last five league matches: Celtic L W D D D; St Mirren L L D D D Top scorers: Georgios Samaras (Celtic) 14; Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 10 Match Referee: C Allan (Scotland)
Dundee Utd (4) v Hearts (3)
Dundee United are without midfielder Danny Swanson after he damaged knee ligaments playing for the reserves in midweek. Scott Robertson is also out with a groin injury. January signing James Wesolowski will be in the squad for the first time since arriving from Leicester and captain Lee Wilkie (knee) is fully fit.
Hearts have a shortage of strikers, with Christian Nade suspended and Gary Glen and Mike Tullberg injured, leaving Calum Elliot as manager Csaba Laszlo's only recognised forward. Midfielder Laryea Kingston is out for around six weeks after scans revealed he had torn his hamstring and Marius Zaliukas is still suspended, but Christos Karipidis is back following illness.
Last season: Hearts 1 Dundee Utd 0, Dundee Utd 4 Hearts 1, Hearts 1 Dundee Utd 3
Last five league matches: Dundee Utd L W L D D; Hearts W W L W D
Top scorers: Jon Daly (Dundee Utd) 9; Calum Elliot (Hearts) 11
Referee: E Smith (Scotland)
Hamilton (8) v Rangers (1)
Hamilton defender Mark McLaughlin has been ruled out of the clash with a head wound. Martin Canning is also struggling to overcome a knock, while David Elebert is not fully match fit after recovering from a torn hamstring.
Rangers manager Walter Smith has no fresh injury worries. Nacho Novo is still out of action with the ankle problem he sustained against Dundee United a month ago. DaMarcus Beasley (shin) and Lee McCulloch (calf) are also sidelined after picking up injuries during the Homecoming Scottish Cup win over Forfar.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hamilton W W W L W; Rangers W D W D W
Top scorers: Richard Offiong (Hamilton) 6; Kris Boyd (Rangers) 24
Referee: C Thomson (Scotland)
Hibernian (7) v Falkirk (11)
Hibernian midfielder Fabian Yantorno is expected to be back in the squad. The Uruguayan missed Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Inverness with a knee problem but trained in the latter part of this week. Only full-backs Ian Murray (groin) and Kevin McCann (knee) are missing from manager Mixu Paatelainen's plans.
Falkirk midfielder Kevin McBride has not recovered from a back problem and will remain on the sidelines. Gerard Aafjes is back in training following a knee problem but tomorrow's game may come too soon for his comeback.
Last season: Falkirk 0 Hibernian 2, Hibernian 1 Falkirk 1, Falkirk 1 Hibernian 1
Last five league matches: Hibernian W L D D L; Falkirk L D W D L
Top scorers: Derek Riordan (Hibernian) 9; Steve Lovell (Falkirk) 10
Referee: S Finnie (Scotland)
Inverness (12) v Motherwell (6)
Inverness welcome back midfielders Ian Black and Russell Duncan from suspension but boss Terry Butcher insists there is no guarantee they will go straight back into the side. Striker Andrew Barrowman is still out with a knee injury and is joined on the sidelines by defender Phil McGuire, who has not started a match since the end of December after twisting his ankle in training.
Motherwell defender Brian McLean will make his first appearance of the season following a ruptured cruciate ligament. He will replace suspended right-back Paul Quinn, while on-loan striker Cillian Sheridan also returns to the squad.
Last season: Motherwell 3 Inverness 1, Inverness 0 Motherwell 3 Motherwell 2 Inverness 1
Last five league matches: Inverness L L D D W; Motherwell W D D W D
Top scorers: Adam Rooney (Inverness) 6; David Clarkson (Motherwell) 9
Referee: M McCurry (Scotland)
Comment 1 - 2 of 2
Ye Novo @#$% am sure !Heres one for yas Sasa Papac has scored more goals than Venegor this season ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha now thats wit i call @#$% but keep playin him please x
YEAH THAT @#$% HE ALWAYS ALWAYS SCORES AGAINST THE TARRIERS. WOT PISSED OFF COS HE TURNED U DOWN EH
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