Weekend SPFL preview

There's a big weekend of football coming up across all four divisions of the SPFL – we look ahead to the action on December 16 and 17.

In the Ladbrokes Premiership, leaders Celtic are away to Hearts on Sunday, live on Sky Sports at 12.30pm, as they bid to extend their unbeaten domestic run to 70 matches. Brendan Rodgers' side have an excellent record at Tynecastle but Craig Levein's men go into the match boosted by back-to-back home wins. 

Second-placed Rangers are seeking a fifth straight win when they host St Johnstone at Ibrox and Aberdeen, in third on goal difference, are at home to Hibernian on Saturday lunchtime, live on BT Sport at 12.30pm. Hibs remain undefeated in nine away matches since returning to the top flight.

There's a huge game at Dens Park where Dundee face bottom club Partick Thistle - the Jags head north on the back of a vital midweek win over Motherwell and have closed the gap on the Dark Blues to a single point. Kilmarnock have the chance to move to within a point of Motherwell if they can get the better of the Steelmen at Rugby Park and Hamilton Accies are just ahead of Ross County as the sides prepare to meet at the SuperSeal Stadium.

The big game in the Ladbrokes Championship is at Palmerston, where third-placed Queen of the South are up against a Dundee United side who have a one-point lead over St Mirren at the summit. Saints are at home to a Dunfermline team who have slipped out of the top four following a disappointing recent run while Livingston host a Morton side who have lost just once on their travels. Inverness Caley Thistle and Dumbarton are separated by just a point going into their meeting in the Highland capital while Falkirk, with just win so far, have home advantage against bottom club Brechin City.

Ayr United have a five-point in Ladbrokes League 1 and have won eight games in a row as they prepare to travel to Methil to play East Fife. Second-placed Raith Rovers put their 100% home record on the line against an Albion Rovers side who have picked up most of their points away from home. It's third against fourth at the Indodrill Stadium as Alloa Athletic face Arbroath, Stranraer are just outside the top four ahead of their home game with Forfar Athletic and bottom club Queen's Park take on Airdrieonians at Hampden.

Montrose have a three-point cushion at the top of Ladbrokes League 2 - Stewart Petrie's side take on Elgin City at Links Park and are unbeaten in the league since losing at Borough Briggs in September. Title favourites Peterhead make the long journey to Berwick and head for Shielfield in confident mood after six wins out of seven on their travels. Stirling Albion's form has dipped of late and they face a tough test against in-form Annan Athletic at Galabank. Bottom club Cowdenbeath welcome Clyde to Central Park and Edinburgh City play Stenhousemuir at Ainslie Park.