Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are on the verge of another title, David Gray’s Hibs are well placed for a European spot and Simo Valakari’s St Johnstone are battling to avoid relegation
George O’Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Following the Scottish Premiership’s split, we know which teams will make up the top and bottom halves of the table.
However, there are still multiple questions left unanswered with five rounds of league fixtures remaining.
With the top six and bottom six teams all playing each other between now and 18 May, there are still likely to be plenty of twists and turns.
The title is not quite sealed yet, European places are up for grabs and all the bottom-six sides are battling to avoid relegation.
But when might those key questions be answered and what is the current state of play?
When will the title be won?
Anything other than a defeat by Dundee United on Saturday would confirm a fourth successive title for Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers’ side lead Rangers by 15 points with five games to play.
If Celtic were to lose at Tannadice, Rangers must beat St Mirren in Paisley to deny their Old Firm rivals.
That would delay Celtic’s title party at least until the top two then meet at Ibrox on 4 May in the second round of post-split fixtures.
Who is going to qualify for Europe?
If Celtic win the Scottish Cup, the team who finish third in the Premiership go into the Europa League play-off round
Celtic and Rangers have already booked their place in European competition next season, with the other four top-half teams playing for the three remaining spots.
Aberdeen can earn a spot in the Europa League play-off round if they beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, but if the Dons were to lose, that goes to the team who finishes third in the Premiership.
Hibernian are in pole position, but Aberdeen, Dundee United and – to a lesser extent – St Mirren are all still in contention to be best of the rest.
Fourth place would be upgraded from the Conference League second qualifying round to the Europa League equivalent, with the Conference spot going to fifth place.
Are Perth Saints doomed?
Simo Valakari’s St Johnstone are five points adrift at the foot of the table but do have some cause for optimism as they approach five matches that will make or break their season.
Across the most recent six Premiership games, they are sixth in the form table, with two wins and eight points.
No other side in the bottom six has more in that time and the McDiarmid Park side need multiple wins from their final five games in order to stand a chance of retaining their top-flight status.
It is a big ask, but with three of their post-split matches in front of their own fans, Valakari and his players still have hope.
Are the other five teams all in the play-off scrap?
In a word, yes.
Only six points separate Hearts in seventh and Dundee, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, in 11th.
They, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Ross County will all be aware of St Johnstone’s results while desperately trying to accumulate the points to keep them out of a play-off.
What are the games to watch out for?
The last Old Firm derby of the season will be at Ibrox on 4 May, by which time Celtic could already be champions.
Hibs start their post-split run in Aberdeen on Saturday, which could prove decisive in the race for third.
St Johnstone, currently five points adrift at the foot of the table, begin their quest for survival at Fir Park against Motherwell, before finishing their campaign at home to Dundee.
With those two occupying the bottom two league places at present, the battle to avoid the drop could feasibly go down to the final day.
