Premiership quartet fight for three European spots

Three of Hibernian, Dundee United, Aberdeen and St Mirren will play in Europe next season after Celtic reached the Scottish Cup final.

Celtic and Rangers had already clinched places in continental competition, but the other four teams in the Scottish Premiership's top six now know they are competing for three spots in the Europa and Conference Leagues.

Had St Johnstone or Hearts reached the final, they could still have claimed the place awarded to the cup winners.

But that is no longer a possibility, which adds another layer of intrigue to the post-split fixtures in the top half of the division.

What do we know?

Celtic have secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers, and will enter at the play-off round assuming they clinch the title as expected.

Rangers will almost certainly be in that competition, too, but at the second qualifying round stage.

After that, there remains a wee bit of uncertainty.

The Scottish Cup winners earn a spot in the Europa League play-off round, so if Aberdeen upset Celtic at Hampden on 24 May, that's straightforward.

However, should the holders retain the trophy, the place would go to whoever finishes third in the league.

Currently, that's Hibs. But United and Aberdeen and St Mirren - albeit the arithmetic is hugely against them - are still in the mix.

Given whoever it is would be guaranteed - at worst - a six-game Conference League campaign, it's a lucrative prize for their season's work.

But two of the clubs who miss out on third would still be rewarded.

Fourth place would be upgraded from Conference League second qualifying round to the Europa League equivalent, with the Conference spot going to fifth place.

So who is going to make it?

St Mirren might quietly concede they are the ones set to miss out.

Nine points back in sixth place, Stephen Robinson's side seem unlikely to usurp the teams above them in their daunting final five fixtures.

They would need to take at least 10 points from trips to Celtic and United and visits from Rangers, Hibs and Aberdeen to have any chance.

That leaves Hibs, United and Aberdeen fighting for third place.

The Easter Road side have a three-point advantage and are on a remarkable run, having been bottom in December.

But with all three still playing each other - as well as the Old Firm and St Mirren - there is still scope for twists and turns as the prize comes into sharper focus.