Fourth place and play-off showdowns, plus Dessers in spotlight

Aberdeen, Dundee United, Cyriel Dessers and managers Don Cowie and Tony Docherty have much to play for this weekend

While Celtic receive the Scottish Premiership trophy some three weeks after officially clinching the title - and relegated St Johnstone play their last game in the top flight for at least a season - there are still important matters to be decided elsewhere.

Either Dundee or Ross County will face a play-off to retain their top-flight status and while the remaining European qualification places have still to be finalised.

Here's what to look out for as the top six finishing their league season on Saturday, with the bottom six playing on Sunday.

Game of the weekend - Dundee United v Aberdeen (Sat, 12:30)

It had looked like a tight, three-horse race for third spot would go down to the wire - until losing streaks for Dundee United (four) and Aberdeen (three) handed the prize to Hibernian.

Now the Dons, who have suffered successive heavy defeats by Rangers and Celtic, travel to Tannadice still three points clear of their hosts as they go head-to-head for fourth.

United, who beat Aberdeen 1-0 on their last visit in December before a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie, must win to overtake their east-coast rivals on goal difference.

Even then, they will have to wait until the Scottish Cup final before knowing whether that will be enough to ensure they enter Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2012-13.

That is because, should Aberdeen then beat Celtic at Hampden, United would have to make do with the less prestigious Conference League second qualifying round instead of the same stage of the Europa League.

Aberdeen are guaranteed Conference League football even if they lose the cup final and finish fifth, but United could find themselves missing out on European football altogether if they suffer defeat on Saturday.

However, that would require sixth-top St Mirren, who are one point behind, to spoil Celtic's title-winning party.

A draw in Glasgow, combined with a United defeat, would take the Buddies into Europe instead on goal difference.

An unlikely St Mirren win, meanwhile, would leave United needing a victory of their own.

To add to the intrigue, that would mean United's Jim Goodwin would have spoiled the European aspirations of the two clubs he previously managed.

Player to watch - Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)

Cyriel Dessers is now the Premiership's top scorer this season

He has been much maligned and handed a perhaps unfair share of the blame for Rangers' failure to challenge for silverware this season, but Cyriel Dessers has shrugged off the criticism to rise to the top of the Premiership scoring charts.

The 30-year-old Nigeria striker's double in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dundee United took his total to 17 goals, one better than Celtic and Japan forward Daizen Maeda.

Considering the contrasting seasons the rival Glasgow clubs have had, that is no mean feat.

Indeed, his five goals from his past four appearances takes his total in all competitions to 28.

Score again in Saturday's final league game away to Hibs and Dessers will match a run of goals last achieved by a Rangers player just over a year ago by captain and right-back James Tavernier.

The last Rangers forward to achieve that was Alfredo Morelos in his prime four years ago and suggests that, whoever takes over from interim head coach Barry Ferguson at the end of the season, Dessers will be viewed as an asset rather than a liability.

Managers in spotlight - Don Cowie (Ross County) & Tony Docherty (Dundee)

Ronan Hale's dramatic penalty equaliser six minutes into stoppage time not only relegated St Johnstone but rescued Ross County's hopes of escaping second bottom and a play-off to avoid dropping to the Championship themselves.

But for that goal, hosts Dundee would have been safe and dreaming of their holidays as they travel to face the doomed Saints on Sunday.

Instead, Tony Docherty's side have been dragged into a final-day shootout to avoid facing whoever wins the Premiership play-off semi-final after Friday's second leg between Livingston or Partick Thistle, which Livi lead 2-0 from the first leg.

Whichever manager finds himself in that position will come under increasing pressure amid question marks about whether they will be given the chance to chase a quick return to the top flight next season.

Don Cowie has been in this position before, being handed the County job permanently after leading his side to a play-off victory over Raith Rovers last season as interim boss.

Heading into Saturday two points adrift, the Dingwall side remain favourites to finish second bottom in three successive seasons.

Especially as they must end an eight-game run without a victory to stand a chance of leapfrogging Dundee - and even then they must also hope the Dark Blues also lose in Perth.

That is not strictly true. If County win and Dundee draw, Cowie's side would need to beat Motherwell by at least seven goals to overturn the goal difference.

There is also a scenario where, if Dundee draw 0-0, the Staggies would overtake them by winning 20-14, but the reality is Cowie's side need a win.

County had lost seven in a row before Saturday's draw opened a backdoor escape route and Motherwell arrive having lost just once in five outings, so the signs are not promising.

However, Cowie's side have not lost to Sunday's visitors in three meetings this season, winning the past two, the latest by 3-0 at Fir Park in February.

Meanwhile, in addition to that late stunner against County, Docherty has been left cursing some controversial refereeing decisions in recent weeks as he looks to extend Dundee's stay for a third season since promotion.

It leaves the Dark Blues without a win in three outings and he will be hoping Saints, who have themselves only won once in six, are not motivated into one big goodbye performance.

A repeat of the 1-1 draw at Dens Park in March would probably be enough for Docherty's side and they will take heart from the 3-1 win on their last visit to Perth in January.