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Friday 20th April 2018

Weekend SPFL preview

Celtic, Ayr United and Montrose could all clinch titles this weekend, while it’s trophy day for Ladbrokes Championship winners St Mirren.

Celtic, Ayr United and Montrose could all clinch titles this weekend, while it’s trophy day for Ladbrokes Championship winners St Mirren.

Last weekend's Scottish Cup victory over Rangers kept Celtic on course for historic back-to-back Trebles and they could wrap up the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday. 

A win over Hibernian at Easter Road - live on BT Sport - would secure a seventh successive title for the Hoops but Hibs have been in fine form in recent weeks and still harbour hopes of finishing runners-up. Rangers currently occupy second spot but don't play until Sunday - Hearts are the visitors to Ibrox, live on Sky Sports at 12.30pm. 

Saturday's other top-six game pits Kilmarnock - who are on a run of six Premiership victories on the spin - against Aberdeen at Rugby Park. The Dons are the only team to have got the better of Steve Clarke's men since Killie lost to Hibs at the end of October.
 
In the bottom six, Partick Thistle and Hamilton Accies will pay tribute to their former manager John Lambie at Saturday's game at The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill. It's a massive match for both clubs - the Jags are bottom of the table, with Accies five points above them in ninth spot despite a recent sequence of defeats. Ross County, who occupy the relegation play-off place, are at home to Scottish Cup finalists Motherwell while Dundee, who are four points above the danger zone, play St Johnstone in a Tayside derby at Dens Park.
 
It's trophy day in the Ladbrokes Championship, with St Mirren set to receive the silverware after Saturday's game against rivals Morton at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. It's been an outstanding season for the Buddies under Jack Ross, who has guided the club to their fifth title at this level. 

Livingston have also enjoyed a superb campaign and are seeking a second successive promotion under David Hopkin. Livi are second in the table as they prepare to face winless Brechin City at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Dumbarton, who will need to come through the play-offs to remain in the Championship, face Falkirk at the YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium. Queen of the South, who have dropped out of play-off contention in recent weeks, are up against Dundee United at Palmerston while Inverness Caley Thistle and fourth-placed Dunfermline Athletic clash in the Highlands.
 
The gap at the summit of Ladbrokes League 1 is down to two points after the weekend's results and Raith Rovers have the chance to go top on Saturday when they travel to face in-form Stranraer at Stair Park. The Blues have won four games on the trot but the play-offs look just out of reach. If Barry Smith's men slip up then Ayr United could clinch the title away to Alloa Athletic on Sunday, live on BBC ALBA at 4.10pm. 

The Wasps are almost certain to be in the play-offs, as are Dick Campbell's Arbroath, who play Airdrieonians at Gayfield. Forfar Athletic made sure of their League 1 status for another year on Saturday but the same can't be said for Queen's Park, who are bottom of the table as they prepare to head to Station Park. Ninth-placed Albion Rovers have lost seven games in a row and will bid to end that run against East Fife at Cliftonhill.
 
The Ladbrokes League 2 title race looks like going the distance but Stewart Petrie’s Montrose could be champions on Saturday if they do better against fourth-placed Stenhousemuir at Ochilview than Jim McInally’s Peterhead fare away to Elgin City. 

Stirling Albion need a point against Annan Athletic at Galabank to be sure of a top-four finish while fifth-placed Clyde are going for a seventh successive home win when they meet Edinburgh City. Berwick Rangers host Cowdenbeath at Shielfield, with the Blue Brazil certain to finish bottom and facing a play-off against Spartans or Cove Rangers next month in a bid to retain their SPFL status.

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