(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday

Aberdeen (6) v Rangers (1)

Aberdeen will have Chris Maguire back from suspension but Gary McDonald is banned following his red card against Motherwell. Sone Aluko (stomach) and Fraser Fyvie (ankle) remain on the sidelines while Zander Diamond (ankle) will return to training next week.

Jerome Rothen remains in France being treated for swine flu but better news for Rangers is the return of Steven Naismith, who missed the midweek defeat to Stuttgart with hamstring and calf injuries. Longer-term casualties Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot are back in training and nearing a return to the first team.

Last season: Rangers 2 Aberdeen 1, Aberdeen 0 Rangers 0, Rangers 2 Aberdeen 0, Aberdeen 1 Rangers 1

Last five league matches: Aberdeen D L L W D; Rangers W W D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Charlie Mulgrew (Aberdeen) 3; Kris Boyd (Rangers) 8

Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)

Celtic (2) v St Mirren (7)

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus returns from suspension and midfielders Zheng Zhi and Paddy McCourt are back after recovering from a knock and illness respectively. Goalkeeper Artur Boruc is back in training after recovering from a knee operation but will not be risked and Celtic will be missing Scott Brown (ankle) and Shaun Maloney (Achilles) for a further two months.

Captain John Potter returns to boost St Mirren after missing last week's draw against Hibernian with a facial infection. Buddies boss Gus MacPherson has no fresh injuries and is expected to name a similar side to last week.

Last season: Celtic 7 St Mirren 0, St Mirren 1 Celtic 3, Celtic 1 St Mirren 0

Last five league matches: Celtic D W W D L; St Mirren W D L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Scott McDonald (Celtic) 10; Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 8

Referee: Steve Conroy (Scotland)

Hibernian (3) v Falkirk (12)

Hibs' Kevin McBride is 50-50 with an ankle injury. Fellow midfielder Merouane Zemmama is expected to return from a groin problem, defender Sol Bamba should be fit to continue after having an injection in his knee injury, but Kevin McCann (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Falkirk hope to sign Toufik Zerara and the 23-year-old French midfielder will be on the bench if the Bairns receive international clearance in time. Alex MacDonald should return from a groin injury but Sean Lynch, Mark Stewart, Jackie McNamara, Kjartan Finnbogason, Burton O'Brien and Tam Scobbie are still out.

Last season: Hibernian 0 Falkirk 0, Falkirk 1 Hibernian 1, Hibernian 3 Falkirk 2

Last five league matches: Hibernian W D W D D; Falkirk L D L D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Derek Riordan (Hibernian) 6; Kjartan Finnbogason, Carl Finnigan & Ryan Flynn (Falkirk) 2

Referee: David Somers (Scotland)

Kilmarnock (10) v Hearts (9)

Kilmarnock skipper Kevin Kyle will have stitches removed from a face wound and should declare himself fit for the visit of the Jambos. Defender Simon Ford is getting back to full fitness following his recovery from a knee injury but the game has come too early for him.

Hearts will be without banned defender Jose Goncalves - David Kucharski and Eggert Jonsson are vying to deputise. Striker Calum Elliot should return to the squad after knee surgery and Laryea Kingston is also fit but Hearts remain without Marius Zaliukas (ankle), Andrew Driver (knee), Suso Santana (hernia) and David Templeton (foot), although the latter is close to a comeback.

Last season: Hearts 3 Kilmarnock 1, Kilmarnock 0 Hearts 2, Hearts 1 Kilmarnock 2

Last five league matches: Kilmarnock L W L L L; Hearts D D L D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Kyle (Kilmarnock) 6; Michael Stewart (Hearts) 3

Referee: Steve Nicholls (Scotland)

Motherwell (5) v Dundee Utd (4)

Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings has missed several training sessions this week with an ankle injury but is hopeful of making the game. Shaun Hutchinson (hamstring) and Chris Humphrey (ankle) remain on the sidelines while Paul Slane, Marc Fitzpatrick and Darren Smith continue their rehabilitation programmes.

United will have Mihael Kovacevic back after a calf injury. Defender Garry Kenneth will not be risked but striker Jon Daly will be on the bench and youngster Keith Watson is also likely to have a place in the squad for the first time in three seasons following knee injuries. Long-term absentees Lee Wilkie (knee), Scott Robertson (groin) and Francisco Sandaza (groin) miss out.

Last season: Motherwell 2 Dundee Utd 1, Dundee Utd 0 Motherwell 4, Motherwell 1 Dundee Utd 1

Last five league matches: Motherwell D D W D D; Dundee Utd D D W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Ross Forbes (Motherwell) 8; Damian Casalinuovo (Dundee Utd) 6

Referee: Alan Muir (Scotland)

St Johnstone (8) v Hamilton (11)

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes has doubts over Steven Anderson (back), Danny Grainger (thigh) and Kenny Deuchar (groin). Defender Graham Gartland is definitely out with a shoulder injury and the game comes too early for Steven Milne, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Guillaume Beuzelin is back in contention for Hamilton after missing last week's defeat to Falkirk through suspension. Boss Billy Reid has no fresh injury worries.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: St Johnstone L L W L W; Hamilton D L W D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Collin Samuel (St Johnstone) 7; Mickael Antoine-Curier (Hamilton) 6

Referee: Willie Collum (Scotland)