Scottish Premiership Picks: Hibs' Ibrox challenge, Lawrence Shankland & Craig Levein in focus

The Scottish Premiership is back with a bang this weekend as the run-in takes centre stage after the final international hiatus of the season.

Celtic lead the way but the margin is just one point and Rangers have a game in hand.

At the wrong end of the table, there's a scramble to avoid the play-off and that adds extra tension to Ross County's visit to Pittodrie.

Here are some of the names and games to look out for...

Game of the week - Rangers v Hibernian

Three weeks on from their Scottish Cup meeting, Rangers and Hibs are at it again in the Premiership.

The incentive for Rangers is the chance to go back top of the table, at least until Celtic visit Livingston on Sunday.

For Hibs, it's about the top six and holding off the threat of seventh-placed Dundee, who are away to St Johnstone at the same time.

There have been nine goals in matches between Rangers and Hibs this season. The Ibrox side have scored them all.

Rangers are aiming for a seventh successive win against the Edinburgh side, with Hibs last taking a point early last season. The Easter Road men's last win over Rangers was in the 2021 League Cup semi-finals and their most recent league victory came in Govan in February 2018.

Rangers' 2-0 cup success at Easter Road earlier this month stands as their only win in the past four outings and Philippe Clement's side have lost their last two home matches to Motherwell and Benfica.

Rangers haven't lost three consecutive games at Ibrox for 12 years.

Hibs have picked up four points against the bottom two since that cup defeat and scored 12 goals in six league games but the visitors require a huge improvement since they have not laid a glove on Rangers this term.

Player to watch - Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

Will Premiership top scorer Lawrence Shankland get back among the goals when Hearts host Kilmarnock?

Lawrence Shankland drew both praise and criticism for his efforts in Scotland's 4-0 defeat by the Netherlands during the international break.

His overall performance was impressive but the Hearts striker rattled the crossbar with a big chance when the Scots trailed 1-0 in Amsterdam.

Then, at Hampden, eyebrows were raised when Shankland was not brought off the bench sooner as Scotland toiled to a 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland before he was unable to capitalise on two good penalty-box opportunities.

How does Shankland respond to all this? The only way he knows how - by hitting the back of the net you would imagine.

After 28 goals in 39 previous appearances, and nine in his last eight, the 28-year-old has gone four games for club and country without finding the net.

He has also not scored against Saturday's visitors, Kilmarnock, this season. What are the odds he rectifies all that at Tynecastle as third in the table eye a third consecutive win over the side now sitting fourth?

Manager in focus - Craig Levein (St Johnstone)

St Johnstone host Dundee on Saturday and oh how the Perth side would love to be where their Tayside rivals are in the current pecking order.

Although Dundee have only won once in their latest four outings, Tony Docherty's side have realistic hopes of a top-six finish. Not long ago, Saints had similar aspirations.

Now, though, while Craig Levein steadied the ship following Steven MacLean's early-season departure as manager, St Johnstone still have quite a bit of work to do to preserve their top-flight status.

They have won just once in seven games and only a point separates them from Ross County in 11th, with another 10 points to bottom side Livingston.

With County facing a tricky trip to Aberdeen and Livi at home to Celtic the following day, Saturday could be an opportunity for Levein's side to give themselves some breathing space.

To do so, however, they will have to end a run of five games - two this season - without a victory over the visitors from Dens Park.

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