Celtic will kick off their Scottish Premier League season at home to Kilmarnock (August 4th) for the second year running as Rangers travel to Inverness.

Rangers and Celtic fans will have to wait until October 20th for the first Old Firm clash of the season but the New Year`s derby returns with the pair due to meet at Parkhead on January 2nd.

Supporters of the Edinburgh teams do not have nearly so long to wait for a chance to claim the local bragging rights with Hearts playing Hibernian at Tynecastle on the first day of the season.

Gretna will play their first SPL game against Falkirk at Fir Park, forcing Motherwell`s new manager to make his competitive debut at St Mirren.

While Rangers face a difficult trip in their opener, Celtic must travel to Falkirk and Aberdeen in their subsequent games before hosting Hearts.

And Walter Smith`s men have home advantage to look forward to in their second and third games with St Mirren and Falkirk visiting Ibrox.

Outside of the big two, Aberdeen face a tough start as they host Hearts and then travel to Hibernian either side of their game against Celtic.

Gretna make the journey to Edinburgh in consecutive weeks immediately after their SPL debut before playing a `home' game against landlords Motherwell on August 25.

The league campaign takes a two-week break in September, October and November as Scotland close their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.