Aberdeen (5) v Hearts (4):Aberdeen midfielder Derek Young should be fit after missing the win at Inverness through injury. Jamie Smith and Bertrand Bossu are pushing for places in the squad after recovering from calf strains. The Dons will still be without long-term absentees Tommy Wright (Achilles) and Stuart Duff (knee).

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is confident Andy Driver, Bruno Aguiar and Ruben Palazuelos will be fit after picking up knocks against Dundee United. Uganda international David Obua faces at least four weeks on the sidelines with a groin  problem, while strikers Juho Makela (ankle) and Mike Tullberg (thigh) are out.

Last season: Aberdeen 0 Hearts 1, Hearts 4 Aberdeen 1 Aberdeen 1 Hearts 1
Last five league matches: Aberdeen D L W W W; Hearts W W W D D
Top scorers: Lee Miller (Aberdeen) 6; Bruno Aguiar (Hearts) 3, Andrew Driver  (Hearts) 3 & Michael Stewart (Hearts) 3
Match odds: H 23-20 A 19-20 D 11-5
Referee: I Brines (Scotland).

Dundee Utd (3) v Falkirk (9)

United have a doubt over striker Francisco Sandaza, who has been plagued by a foot problem for the last month. While his condition is improving, boss Craig Levein may opt to give him another week's rest. With Irishman Jon Daly in good form and Warren Feeney also in the squad, Levein has options available to him.

Falkirk manager John Hughes will welcome back defender Jackie McNamara from suspension and forward Michael Higdon should also return after a flu bug kept him out of the 3-0 loss to Celtic. Striker Carl Finnigan and left-back Tam Scobbie are pushing for starts following their returns to fitness.

Last season: Dundee Utd 0 Falkirk 0, Falkirk 3 Dundee Utd 0, Dundee Utd 2 Falkirk 0
Last five league matches: Dundee Utd D W W D D; Falkirk L D L L L
Top scorers: Jon Daly (Dundee Utd) 8; Steve Lovell (Falkirk) 7
Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 5-2
Referee: C Boyle (Scotland).

Hibernian (6) v Kilmarnock (7)

Hibernian could welcome back striker Derek Riordan and midfielder Dean Shiels.  Riordan missed the defeat at Rangers with a cut leg and Shiels has been absent for the last three games with an ankle injury. Both have returned to first-team training and may come into contention for starting slots.

Killie hope to have four players back from injury. Willie Gibson, Mehdi Taouil, Danny Invincibile and Simon Ford have all returned to training and their fitness will be assessed ahead of the game. However, Frazer Wright (hamstring) has joined David Lilley, Ryan O'Leary and Allan Johnston on the sidelines.

Last season: Hibernian 2 Kilmarnock 0, Kilmarnock 2 Hibernian 1, Hibernian 4 Kilmarnock 1
Last five league matches: Hibernian W D W W L; Kilmarnock W L L W L
Top scorers: Steven Fletcher, Colin Nish & Derek Riordan (Hibernian) 6; Craig Bryson, Conor Sammon & Mehdi Taouil (Kilmarnock) 3
Match odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 12-5
Referee: E Norris (Scotland).

Motherwell (10) v Inverness (11)

Well manager Mark McGhee could be hit by more withdrawals this weekend. Captain Stephen Craigan (groin) and striker David Clarkson (hand) remain sidelined. McGhee is waiting on a doctor's report on Bob Malcolm, Steven McGarry, Jamie Murphy and Stephen Hughes, who have all missed training this week through sickness.

Inverness midfielders Ian Black and Russell Duncan are doubts after picking up knocks in the defeat to Aberdeen - Duncan has a slight groin strain, while Black is nursing a hamstring injury. Rory McAllister remains on the sidelines after sustaining ankle ligament damage in training earlier this month.

Last season: Motherwell 3 Inverness 1, Inverness 0 Motherwell 3 Motherwell 2 Inverness 1
Last five league matches: Motherwell L L L L L; Inverness W L L L L
Top scorers: John Sutton (Motherwell) 5; Adam Rooney (Inverness) 4
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: C Richmond (Scotland).

Rangers (2) v Celtic (1)

Madjid Bougherra has missed the last two matches with a thigh injury but could prove his fitness. Maurice Edu is fit again after an ankle injury, while Chris Burke has recovered from flu. Kenny Miller is also in contention, despite boss Walter Smith revealing the striker has been struggling with a slight knock.

Stephen McManus, Paul Hartley and Barry Robson are back in contention for Celtic. Skipper McManus (knee) and midfielder Hartley (virus) missed the win over Falkirk while midfielder Robson returns after recovering from a thigh knock which has kept him out for almost a month. Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, out three months with a groin injury, is back in training but will not be rushed back.

Last season: Celtic 3 Rangers 2, Celtic 2 Rangers 1, Rangers 1 Celtic 0, Rangers 3 Celtic 0
Last five league matches: Rangers W L W D W; Celtic W W L D W
Top scorers: Kris Boyd (Rangers) 18; Georgios Samaras (Celtic) 12
Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).

St Mirren (8) v Hamilton (12)

St Mirren hope striker Jim Hamilton will be fit after picking up a knock against Kilmarnock at the weekend. Stephen ODonnell (knee), Will Haining (foot) and Steven Robb (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid waits on the fitness of defender Mark McLaughlin, whose back strain is being monitored. Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny has recovered after suffering concussion, while skipper Alex Neil plays his last game before commencing a two-match ban for going through the points threshold.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: St Mirren L L W W W; Hamilton D W L L W
Top scorers: Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 8; James McCarthy & Richard Offiong
(Hamilton) 4
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: M Tumilty (Scotland).