SPL preview: Motherwell eye top spot, Rangers seek redemption

Motherwell have an ideal chance to extend their lead on top of the Scottish Premier League table when they travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

After the opening round of fixtures last weekend, Stuart McCall’s Motherwell share first place with Celtic, who have been forced to postpone their league encounter against Dunfermline on Saturday due to a pre-arranged tournament – the Dublin Super Cup.

Motherwell can exploit this to jump clear of the pack, and follow on from their 3-0 defeat of Inverness in their opening game at home.

Rangers, who drew 1-1 with Hearts in the opening round, will be keen to send a strong message to the competition on the weekend when they travel to St Johnstone.

The reigning champions also suffered an embarrassing home defeat to Swedish club Malmo in the Champions League qualifying stage in midweek.

Ally McCoist’s men are still alive in the European competition with a second leg to come in Sweden, and the Glasgow giants can help rebuild their confidence with the three points at McDiarmid Park.

Inverness can start afresh for their first home game of the campaign when they take on Hibernian at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

St Mirren and Aberdeen go head to head at St Mirren Park, with both sides coming off 0-0 draws to open the season.

Hearts and Dundee will do battle in the lone Sunday fixture, with the former looking to repeat their heroics that saw them take a point away from Ibrox on the opening day.