Hearts and Celtic given potential final-day title decider

Heart of Midlothian and Celtic face a potential, final-day title decider in Glasgow on Saturday, 16 May after the Scottish Professional Football League announced the Premiership’s post-split fixtures.

The 12-team top flight divides into two sections of six after this coming weekend’s 33rd set of fixtures, with Rangers the other side involved in a three-team race for the title.

The SPFL normally tries to avoid what could often be a potential Old Firm title decider because of policing issues and this season’s final Glasgow derby, with Celtic entertaining Rangers, has been slotted for Sunday, 10 May – the third last set of fixtures.

But Hearts have upset the applecart this season and Edinburgh’s surprise long-time leaders open their post-split schedule with their derby away to Hibernian on Sunday, 26 April.

Derek McInnes’ side, whose lead over Rangers was reduced to a point at the weekend, entertain the Ibrox side on Monday, 4 May.

Rangers’ final game of the league season is a third visit to Falkirk, who have one more home game than all the other clubs because of a fixture imbalance due to them being expected to have finished in the bottom half of the table.

In the bottom half of the table, five teams could potentially face relegation.

The final bottom-six fixtures are on Sunday, 17 May, when Dundee will host Aberdeen, Kilmarnock visit Livingston and St Mirren entertain Dundee United.

After this weekend, the Premiership has a two-week hiatus for international fixtures and resumes on 25 April, when Celtic entertain Falkirk in the top half, while Aberdeen host Kilmarnock and Livingston visit St Mirren.

The following day, Rangers host Motherwell, while United host the final Dundee derby.

The remaining fixtures will be staged over the weekends of 2 and 3 May and 9 and 10 May, the midweek of 12 and 13 May, while the top six finish on 16 May, with the bottom half the following day .

Scottish Premiership fixtures