Celtic will be aiming to move three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table when they host Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Kilmarnock, meanwhile, could be leapfrogged by St Mirren into fourth spot if they fail to pull off an upset at Celtic Park.
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Despite collecting 19 points from a possible 21 since dispatching Livingston on December 23, Celtic saw their fierce rivals Rangers move level on points with them at the top of the table in midweek when beating Ross County 3-1 at Ibrox.
Only goal difference separates the two Glasgow giants at the summit after 25 games, meaning that their two remaining fixtures against each other could prove pivotal in terms of shaping which side wins the title. Celtic travel to Ibrox on April 6, before an unscheduled meeting after the division splits into two halves for the final five matchdays of the campaign.
In the meantime, the Bhoys have six league games to navigate, plus a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Livingston after beating St Mirren last weekend. Unlike Rangers, who will resume Europa League action at the last-16 stage after winning their group, Brendan Rodgers's side are no longer involved in any European competitions after finishing bottom of their Champions League group.
Rodgers and his players will be hoping to use that potential advantage in their favour as far as the Scottish Premiership is concerned. Anything short of all three points against Kilmarnock on Saturday would represent a major disappointment, especially as it would pile the pressure back on Rangers, who travel to St Johnstone on Sunday.
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Kilmarnock, meanwhile, will feel that they are back where they belong towards the top of the Scottish Premiership table after enduring a difficult few seasons. Killie were relegated in the 2020-21 campaign before bouncing back as champions at the first attempt, while they narrowly avoided finishing in the bottom two when ending up in 10th position last time around.
However, they are fighting for a European qualification position this time around, having amassed 36 points from 25 games to sit in fourth spot. With a seven-point cushion ahead of sixth-placed Dundee but a 12-point deficit to Hearts in third, Kilmarnock appear to be fighting St Mirren for fourth position on current form.
Derek McInnes's side are also in the hunt for the club's fourth Scottish Cup triumph after beating Cove Rangers 2-0 at Rugby Park last weekend. Goals from Marley Watkins and Danny Armstrong moved Killie into the quarter-finals, with a winnable away tie against Aberdeen awaiting them in early March.
Clearly, they will be up against it to avoid defeat against Celtic on Saturday, but they have already beaten them once this season when winning 2-1 in December. McInnes and his players will be hoping to spoil the party once again.
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Celtic will be without Adam Montgomery for the rest of the season due to a serious hamstring issue, while Reo Hatate, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor and James McCarthy all face at least a few more weeks on the sidelines due to their own muscle injuries.
Kyogo Furuhashi returned to the starting XI with a goal away to St Mirren in the cup last time out and should retain his place behind Adam Idah, with Rodgers unlikely to make many selection changes from that victory.
Kilmarnock will remain without Robbie Deas due to a broken cheekbone, while Kyle Magennis is facing a race against time to return before the end of February due to a hamstring injury.
McInnes made six changes between the 1-0 win against Livingston in the league and his side's routine victory against Cove Rangers in the cup, and he is likely to revert to the team which narrowly got the job done against Livingston last Wednesday.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Welsh, Scales, Bernabei; Maeda, O'Riley, McGregor, Palma; Furuhashi, Idah
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Dennis; Mayo, Wright, Findlay; Armstrong, Watson, Donnelly, Davies; Stewart; Vassell, Watkins
We say: Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock
Celtic will be determined to restore their three-point lead ahead of Rangers, who do not play until Sunday, and we expect them to do so with a routine home win here.
Kilmarnock have been one of the surprise packages in Scotland this season and it is unlikely that they will simply roll over without a fight, but they are lacking individual quality to take the game to Rodgers's side.
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Brett Curtis
