After 33 games of a compelling Premiership season, the only issue which appears to be settled is that Livingston will return to the Championship after one year back in the top flight.
Delightfully, as we approach the home straight, there’s a three-way title fight, European places to be decided and four teams at the foot of the table scrapping to avoid the dreaded play-off.
Will Hearts hold on and win the title for the first time since 1960 or will one of the Old Firm deny them with a strong finish?
What part will Motherwell, Hibs and Falkirk play in that story as they seek to qualify for Europe?
Can Kilmarnock put a run together to jump above St Mirren? Might Aberdeen or Dundee yet get dragged into a dogfight? Strap yourselves in. It’s going to be quite a ride.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s JOHN McGARRY and KEVIN McKENNA try to make sense of it all.
Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga have scored 27 Premiership goals between them
Q: What can get Hearts over the line?
JM: In short — starting at Easter Road tomorrow — better form on the road. Derek McInnes’ men have been formidable at Tynecastle. They are the only side not to have lost a home league match. They’ve only drawn four from 17.
It’s been a different story outside Gorgie; Five losses and three draws. Hibs, Motherwell and Celtic lie in wait away from home. If they can tick the first of those off this weekend and atone for the defeat in Leith over Christmas, it will feel like a monumental result. If not, the edifice will be crumbling.
KM: Keeping Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga fit. Hearts’ front two have notched 27 Premiership goals between them this season and that’s the sort of firepower that their title rivals can only dream of. As long as they are on the pitch, Hearts will carry a threat.
McInnes could also do with Alexandros Kyziridis finding some form again. The Greek winger made a terrific start to his Tynecastle career but has been off the boil since the turn of the year, netting just once in 2026 and failing to register a single assist.
If he can rediscover his mojo and his strikers keep banging them in, Hearts will be almost impossible to stop.
Q; Who might be the difference-makers for Rangers?
JM: Jack Butland will need to find his best form behind a defence which is still keeping him busy. Even though they beat Aberdeen, Dundee United and Falkirk, Rangers still shipped six goals. When Nico Raskin brings his A game, Rangers are a different animal.
More than anyone else, though, Mikey Moore can provide that flash of inspiration which can turn tight games into victories.
KM: Youssef Chermiti only really turns up against Hearts or Celtic. But if he can put in two match-winning performances at Tynecastle and Parkhead next month, it will likely be enough to see his side become champions.
Off the pitch, manager Danny Rohl will have a huge part to play. The German is as cool as they come, and that calming presence in the dressing room could prove crucial as the pressure cranks up.
Mikey Moore has the quality to provide a moment of magic when it counts for Rangers
Q: How do Celtic suddenly discover the consistency they’ve been lacking to this point?
KM: Pray for a miracle. Celtic simply can’t afford any more slip-ups, but does anyone really think they can put a run together? The fact they are still in with a shout at this stage frankly beggars belief.
Yet, here they are, and with so many of the players having been a part of title-winning teams in recent years, it would be foolish to write them off completely.
The quality of this squad has rightly been questioned this season. But there is an abundance of experience and no shortage of character. They’ve been here before, they know what it takes to get over the line.
JM: Martin O’Neill needs to cross his fingers and hope that Kelechi Iheanacho stays fit.
As evidenced in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, the Nigerian’s pedigree is streets ahead of Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu. If O’Neill can get even 45 minutes out of him, Celtic can win matches and maybe just pull this off. If not, they will falter.
Q: Let’s cut to the chase. So, who’s going to win the league?
JM: For me, Rangers by a nose. The players have bought into what Danny Rohl is asking them to do. They are now comfortable in whatever shape he deploys them in. There are goal threats all over the park. There’s pace to burn in the likes of Djeidi Gassama and a player, in Youssef Chermiti, who seems to thrive on the big occasion.
If they beat Motherwell and win at Tynecastle, I don’t think they’ll be caught.
KM: Hearts. Tynecastle is a fortress, and I would back them to get two wins from two against Rangers and Falkirk.
If they can do that and pick up four points from their three away trips — easier said than done, of course — I just can’t see them being reined in.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill needs to get more out of his side if they are to catch the leaders
Q: Which sides will be digging out their passports?
KM: Falkirk have defied all expectations this season, but they will have to settle for sixth.
Results haven’t gone Motherwell’s way of late — one point from the last 15 available is wretched form — but the performances have merited more.
Hibs have gone about their business quietly but effectively, and manager David Gray deserves credit for keeping them in the hunt. He will be hoping it goes down to a final-day shootout for fourth at Easter Road, but I reckon the Steelmen will have done enough before then.
JM: Let’s not forget that a Dunfermline victory in the Scottish Cup final would mean it’s only the top four league places who make Europe.
Five points behind Hibs and with an inferior goal difference, Falkirk are going to need to produce something extraordinary to move up to fifth and become part of the conversation. I don’t see that happening.
Motherwell have a three-point head start over Hibs. Notwithstanding the fact that the sides meet at Easter Road in the final match, I reckon Jens Berthel Askou’s side will solidify fourth spot leaving Hibs to hope for a Celtic win at Hampden.
Motherwell and Hibs will battle for a fourth-spot finish which will secure European football
Q: Who’s set for a relegation play-off?
JM: Kilmarnock’s form is all over the place. Equally capable of beating Hearts as shipping five at Falkirk, you just don’t know what’s turning up. But I do believe there’s enough about Neil McCann’s men to dig out a few wins.
Likewise, St Mirren, whose performances under interim manager Craig McLeish have been eye-catching.
Aberdeen were much improved as they beat Hibs last week and will do enough.
I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that Dundee — so often impressive under Steven Pressley — will yet be squeezed into 11th spot.
KM: Simon Murray single-handedly kept Ross County in the Premiership two years ago, and repeated the trick for Dundee last time out. The frontman has netted six in his last nine, and his prowess in front of goal will ensure Steven Pressley’s side stay up.
A win for Aberdeen over Kilmarnock at Pittodrie today will all but guarantee their safety, meaning it will be a battle between their visitors and St Mirren to avoid the play-offs.
It’s a toss-up, but the Buddies have the advantage of playing three of their final five at home — one of which is against Killie — and that should swing things in their favour.
