CELTIC manager Tommy Burns is giving his players daily history lessons - to ensure there is no flagging in their title bid.

Burns was a member of the Celtic side that won the Scottish championship 1O years ago on the last day of the season. Long-time leaders Hearts were beaten by two late goals at Dundee in their final fixture as a 5-0 win at St Mirren helped Celtic grab the title on goal difference.

I tell my players about that every day," said Burns. "We won the title with seven minutes of the season to go. It is a lesson that anything can happen in football.

We are still in with a real chance at this stage and are aiming for maximum points from our last four games.

Celtic must sit and wait today as Rangers face Partick at Ibrox with the chance to go seven points clear before they meet Hibernian at Easter Road tomorrow.

Burns is far from despondent despite a missed opportunity on Wednesday when a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock prevented Celtic from taking full advantage of a 2 O defeat for Rangers at Hearts.

"It's not difficult to lift my players after Wednesday as one result does not cancel out all we have done this season," said Burns. "Our players have been unbelievable this term. They have pushed themselves all the way and Rangers have set incredible standards.

"We had a mediocre season last year but this time we have come very close to their standards. Rangers have flown the flag in December or January in previous years, yet we are in April and the gap is only four points."

Burns will wait until tomorrow before settling on his side to face Hibs, with defender John Hughes out injured. The Celtic boss played down talk of interest from Feyenoord in 28-goal Pierre Van Hooydonk, who is under contract at Parkhead for another two years

"I've had no contact from Feyenoord but it wouldn't surprise me if people were interested in Pierre considering the number of goals he has scored," said Burns. "He's a huge threat in the box and I'm happy he is under contract to us."

John Collins is in contention for tomorrow's game, while Hibs have Gordon Hunter and Joe McLaughlin suspended.

Rangers will bid for one of three wins which will wrap up their eighth successive Scottish championship. Assuming Celtic take full points from theirs last four games, Rangers need three wins to take the title.

Striker Ally McCoist is rated "touch and go" by Smith to face Thistle because of a groin injury, while Gordon Durie will be recalled.

"We will leave it until tomorrow morning before making a decision on McCoist," said Smith. "This is a big game for us and it is important we get back on the winning trail after Wednesday's defeat.

We didn't really play well against Hearts and never hit the form we showed in the first hour against Celtic last Sunday. There is no need for me now to stress the importance of games to my players - they know what it will take to win the title."

Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson is unavailable as he starts a two-match suspension but Erik Bo Andersen, Peter Van Vossen and Ian Durrant are added to the' squad.

Thistle, who have Derek McWilliams suspended, are points clear of Falkirk at the bottom but six adrift of Kilmarnock in the race to avoid the dreaded play-off with the first division runners-up.

If Partick fail at Ibrox, Kilmarnock will hope to capitalise in their home game against Falkirk. Victory for Alex Totten's side would make them hard to catch and keep Killie clear of Thistle ahead of their meeting next weekend.

"I've told the players to look up the table," said Totten. "If we win, we will climb above Hibs, if only until Sunday."

Falkirk have problems, with Andy Gray and Jamie McGowan both suspended and Derek Ferguson out injured.

Former Aberdeen legend Alex McLeish returns to Pittodrie with his Motherwell side the in-form team of the division after a seven-match unbeaten run.

Goalkeeper Scott Howie has not conceded a goal during that sequence, while Aberdeen will try to bounce back after their Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final failure against Hearts.

The first division title race is boiling up, with two intriguing matches today. Dundee United, leaders by two points, travel to third-placed St Johnstone, who are five points adrift of their Tannadice rivals.

Second-placed Dunfermline go to Dundee hoping to cash in on the result from McDiarmid Park.