The Scottish Premiership takes its first strides into 2026 on Saturday, with all 12 teams in action.
Here are the names and games to watch out for…
The meeting of Glasgow’s top two usually tops the bill on the Scottish fixture card but Saturday’s meeting at Celtic Park holds particular intrigue.
Celtic under new manager Wilfried Nancy have lost five of their past seven games, three of which have come in the league.
That has taken the defending Premiership champions to five losses in the division at their halfway point.
The French boss leads his team for the first time against Rangers, who trail Celtic by three points.
Rangers, under Danny Rohl, have won eight and drawn two in the league – with the Ibrox side’s early season draws under Russell Martin meaning there is still a gap to Celtic and a six-point distance to leaders Hearts.
The German has led his relatively new team once against Celtic, losing to Martin O’Neill’s side 3-1 in extra time in November’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
What makes Saturday’s encounter particularly pressing is both teams’ need to stay as close to Hearts as possible. Any points dropped would allow Derek McInnes’ team the chance to open up a more handsome advantage.
And let’s not forget Motherwell and Hibernian, both within touching distance of the Glasgow duo, albeit having played a game more.
An intriguing derby beckons.
Derby day also beckons at Tannadice too.
Dundee and Dundee United meet for the second time this season, with United having won their maiden encounter this campaign.
For the visitors, it is the chance to record three wins on the bounce for the first time this season.
Successive victories were achieved with Ashley Hay and Charlie Reilly netting their first goals for the club at home to Kilmarnock on Tuesday evening. That 2-1 win moved the Dark Blues up to ninth.
Reilly’s winner, which followed an assist for the equaliser, was a particularly stylish finish as the forward showed a glimpse of the 24-goal campaign with Albion Rovers that brought him to Dundee’s attention in season 2022-23.
Injuries have hampered Reilly’s progress and he admitted Tuesday had been “a long time coming”.
Finding the net against United would only further endear him to the Dundee faithful.
Derek McInnes has tasted defeat three times as Hearts manager, twice in the Scottish Premiership.
The most recent of those came in their last game, the 3-2 loss at the home of Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.
It very nearly ended as a draw, despite Hearts trailing 3-0 at one stage.
Hearts are back at home on Saturday against struggling bottom side Livingston.
McInnes has recruited right-back Jordi Altena and the Dutchman may make his debut against Livi.
The benefit the Hearts boss has had all season is a large and adaptable squad and Livingston head to Tynecastle about to face a wounded animal.
When Hearts lost at Aberdeen in November, they followed it up with two draws before getting back to winning ways.
McInnes will be determined to avoid any more slip-ups.
