The fact that Rangers have taken over the top spot in the Scottish Premiership with 12 games still to play drove home the point that the season is winding down to its final stretch.

On Saturday, one of five matches will take place, and the reigning champions will play host to a Motherwell side that is struggling. On Sunday, they will face third-place Heart of Midlothian.

In the meantime, you can find out all about the probable deciding factor in the struggle to avoid immediate relegation—Ross County hosts Livingston—here.

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend, here they are:

-It would be the pinnacle of success to keep Livingston running.

-For Rodgers, what is Celtic’s current predicament?

This weekend’s game pits Heart of Midlothian against Rangers.

Prior to Philippe Clement’s arrival, Rangers had a reputation for squandering opportunities whenever they were in a position to win the league.

Rangers’ capacity to solidify their position as Premiership pacesetters will be tested for the first time on Saturday, but the Ibrox side seems to be mentally stronger under the Belgian’s tutelage.

Hearts’ arrival will definitely present a huge examination of their title credentials – and not just because the Edinburgh side are historically one of the key forces outside the Old Firm big two.

Steven Naismith’s side are 11 points behind second-top Celtic, but they have all but sealed third place already thanks to the gap of 14 between themselves and Kilmarnock amid an unbeaten run of 12 games that has included 11 wins.

Indeed, Hearts’ run of eight wins in a row is only one shy of Rangers’ own.

It is a long cry from a couple of months ago, when the style of play under Naismith was being questioned.

Much of the credit for the improvement is being thrown towards in-form Lawrence Shankland and his run of 14 goals in 12 games.

The Scotland striker could have been turning out in light blue in this game if the gossip columns were to be believed, but his much-touted January transfer to Rangers never materialised.

Instead, the 28-year-old has been the beneficiary of an improved squad that will arrive in Glasgow with high aspirations of ending a record of three straight defeats this season at the hands of Rangers.

Indeed, Hearts have not beaten Rangers in 12 encounters overall and in 14 visits to Ibrox since a 2-1 success in August 2014 on the way to Hearts winning the Championship title.

However, their journey to Ibrox comes five days short of the fourth anniversary of their previous victory over Rangers – 1-0 at Tynecastle on 29 February 2020. Are the visitors ready for another massive leap year win?

Player in focus – Tete Yengi (Livingston)

Manager David Martindale has bemoaned his capacity to enhance Livingston’s team because of financial restraints, but the January arrival of Tete Yengi after the striker’s release by Ipswich Town could prove to be a bargain.

After two substitute appearances, the 23-year-old has started the next three games, with the last two yielding remarkable victory that have pushed the West Lothian side into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals and cut the deficit at the foot of the table to three points with Ross County.

The rangy Australian struck the net in the victories over Partick Thistle and St Mirren to raise his record to three goals from five games already.

After pretty fruitless stints at Northampton Town and Finnish side KuPS, he could be finding the power exhibited in his first loan in Finland with VPS – and appears to have helped fellow forward Joel Nouble find his mojo again too.

Martindale will hope the pair continue their double act as they head to Dingwall for a game it is tough not to regard as a six-pointer in their head-to-head with County to avoid the automatic relegation spot.

Manager in spotlight – Brendan Rodgers (Celtic)

It is an indicator of how little room for movement there is at the top of the Scottish top division that two draws in an unbeaten run of 10 games may generate discussion of a crisis.

Such is the life of an Old Firm manager – and Brendan Rodgers is finding his second tenure in command of Celtic is not going so blissfully smoothly as his first.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock, on top of the same scoreline away to Aberdeen early in the month, means Celtic have failed to win two of their previous four outings, allowing Rangers to rise to the top for the first time since August 2022.

There had already been rumblings of unhappiness among supporters over Celtic’s performances, given negative comparisons to the swashbuckling tactics and free-scoring victories under Rodgers’ treble-winning predecessor Ange Postecoglou.

However, it is not simply about performances. While Rangers are on precisely the same points total as they were at this stage last season, Celtic are now 11 points worse off, allowing the Ibrox side their first Premiership lead for 18 months.

It spurred Rodgers, who has been dissatisfied all season by Celtic’s transfer activity, to grumble that his side had fallen below his standards “too may times” already this season and captain Callum McGregor to confess that “something’s missing”.

A visit to Fir Park should, though, present an excellent opportunity to get their title train back on the rails since they have not lost to Motherwell in 30 meetings since December 2015.

Indeed, although Motherwell are unbeaten in their past three home games, Celtic have not lost there in 17 occasions, winning eight in a row.

If that sequence is somehow disrupted, many more questions will be raised of Rodgers and his players.

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