Scottish Premiership picks: Celtic face Hearts test, Neil Warnock scrutiny & can Blair Spittal thwart Rangers?

It has already been a busy and eventful week in the Scottish Premiership and this weekend could see more twists and turns at both ends of the table as we approach the business end of the season.

A big inter-city game in Edinburgh, leaders Rangers aiming to extend their winning run against Motherwell, while Aberdeen try to stop their descent into the relegation zone.

Here are some thoughts to whet your appetite for the action on Saturday and Sunday:

• What will decide the Scottish title?

• Is Dons' Warnock gamble backfiring?

Game of the weekend - Hearts v Celtic

Eight days after failing dismally to live up to predictions they might trouble leaders Rangers at Ibrox, Hearts get a second chance to prove they have the potential to challenge Scotland's big two.

You would normally expect a trip to face the side sitting third to be one full of trepidation, even for reigning champions.

Especially after Hearts' shock 2-0 win at Celtic Park in December and the fact Brendan Rodgers has lost more league games to the Edinburgh side than any other, including two of his last four trips there.

However, the tight confines of Tynecastle have not proved troublesome for Celtic in the recent past, having won on their latest five visits by an aggregate of 15-5 since their last defeat there in July 2021.

Hearts are currently unbeaten in six on their own patch, and will be determined to show that last Saturday's 5-0 thrashing at Ibrox, followed by a perhaps fortunate 1-1 home draw in the Edinburgh derby, are mere blips after a run of 12 games unbeaten, 11 of them wins, all but ensured a third-place finish.

However, Rodgers' Celtic will travel along the M8 full of renewed confidence after Wednesday's 7-1 thrashing of Dundee just about wiped away talk of a crisis following a couple of draws in an otherwise 12-match unbeaten run that allowed city rivals Rangers to take over at the top.

With Rangers expected to gather another three points at home to Motherwell on Saturday, the pressure will be on Celtic to avoid falling further behind, but the odds and history remain in their favour.

Hearts have not beaten Celtic twice in one season since 2011-12 - once in league and then in Scottish Cup - with the last time they achieved a league double being 2006-07.

To do so, they will likely rely heavily on Lawrence Shankland, the Scotland striker's midweek equaliser bringing his total to 27 goals for the season and eight in his last seven games.

However, Celtic have their own emerging goal machine in Adam Idah, with five in five and three in his latest two games on loan from Norwich City.

Player to watch - Blair Spittal (Motherwell)

Motherwell ended a run of 12 away games without a win in style by coming from behind to beat bottom side Livingston 3-1 in midweek and, if they are to do anything similar against league leaders Rangers at Ibrox, there is a good chance Blair Spittal will be involved.

The box-to-box midfielder is in fine form for the side now up to eighth in the table, culminating in two devastating finishes in a row against Celtic and Livingston.

In his last nine games, he has found the net six times while also chipping in with three assists as the 28-year-old emerges as one of the Premiership's most influential midfielders.

However, Motherwell will be up against it as Rangers seek a 12th successive win overall - their longest streak as a top-flight club since 1996 - and a seventh in a row over the visitors.

Manager in spotlight - Neil Warnock (Aberdeen)

Appointing someone who has managed more professional games in England than anyone else - and who holds the record for the most promotions with eight such feats - probably seemed like a safe pair of hands.

However, Neil Warnock has quickly found out that turning round the Pittodrie Titanic will not be easy, describing it as "soul destroying" watching his new Aberdeen charges struggles and suggesting they will be lucky to win another game unless they buck up their ideas.

While Warnock also insists "it is a good job that I am here", some fans are now not so sure given their drop to ninth in the table - just four points above the relegation play-off place.

Aberdeen are without victory in all five league games under the Englishman - the worst start by a Dons manager since Ebbe Skovdahl failed to win any of his first nine league matches in charge in 1999.

Indeed, Warnock's only win in six came at home to League 2 Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup.

It is early days, but his 16.7% win rate with Aberdeen is his lowest as a manager, surpassing the 17.6% in his second spell with Crystal Palace and the 24.7% during his ill-fated spell in charge of Bury as they slumped from top of the Championship to relegation in 1998-99.

Wednesday's dismal 2-0 home defeat by St Johnstone has Dons fans fearing a similar slide under Warnock and they will not be betting on a change in fortunes on Saturday as Aberdeen visit Paisley looking to end a run of three straight away defeats.

Not only have Aberdeen not won there in six visits, St Mirren have won three of their latest five meetings, losing only once, and a 3-0 win at Pittodrie in December was one of the embarrassing scorelines that led to Barry Robson's departure.

A final-minute Bojan Miovski penalty rescued a point for the Dons in a 2-2 draw on Aberdeen's last visit, but even the much-praised North Macedonia striker's goals have dried up - his three in two games under Warnock being followed by three without finding the net.

Amid his tinkering with formations, Warnock needs to find a way to get Miovski firing again.

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