Scottish Premiership picks: Celtic visit St Mirren, majestic McGrath & Gray looks to lift gloom

For the chasing pack, Celtic’s early form is ominous.

While there were a few blips at the beginning of last term, this time Brendan Rodgers’ side appear a well oiled machine, cantering to wins against Kilmarnock and Hibs and seeing off the latter opponents again in the League Cup.

Having missed chunks of the previous campaign, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor are back making things tick, but their midfield partner Matt O’Riley may well be heading for pastures new.

With Brighton favourites for his signature, could Sunday’s visit to Paisley be a farewell for the impressive 23-year-old?

Celtic are aiming for a sixth successive victory over St Mirren, having won last season’s five meetings by an aggregate score of 13-3.

St Mirren’s first European adventure in 37 years is over, but manager Stephen Robinson will be glad of the extra rest for such a tough test. He will also be hoping skipper Mark O’Hara can return to add steel and drive in the middle of the park.

After three defeats on the road, St Mirren will be glad to be back on their own patch, where they swept Hibs aside on week one.

However, the Buddies have only celebrated one win from the past 19 home encounters with Celtic, losing 15 of those.

Celtic will want to go into the first Old Firm showdown of the season with a lead over Rangers but, if O’Riley does move in this transfer window, he won’t be around for the derby.