Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland
We know Celtic will be in the Champions League play-off round. And that Rangers will start in the second qualifying stage.
Hibernian will – after Wednesday’s results – enter the Europa League preliminaries.
But beyond that, the future of the Scottish Premiership’s European hopefuls remains unclear with one round of fixtures remaining.
Events at Tannadice and Celtic Park on Saturday, then Hampden in a week’s time, will determine the details.
But who needs what on what promises to be a nervy concluding afternoon?
Hibernian
For Hibs, the equation is the most straightforward given they will finish third.
If Celtic win the Scottish Cup next Saturday, David Gray’s side will be guaranteed continental combat until December.
That will be in the Europa League if they win a play-off, but otherwise it will be in the Conference League. Either way, good games and good money.
Should Aberdeen triumph at Hampden, though, the Leith side will enter the Europa second qualifying round, with the safety net of a second shot in the Conference preliminaries. But no assured league stage football.
Aberdeen
Jimmy Thelin’s side will, at worst, be in the Conference League.
But should they avoid defeat at Dundee United, they will clinch fourth place, which will mean a Europa League qualifier regardless of how the cup final goes.
Scenario A: Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup and qualify for the Europa League play-off round, wherever they finish in the league. That would mean trips abroad right up until the end of 2025 and a big lump of cash in the club’s current account.
Scenario B: Aberdeen lose the cup final, but by avoiding defeat on Saturday and finishing fourth, they enter the Europa League second qualifying round, with a crack at the Conference League qualifiers should it go awry.
Scenario C: Aberdeen are beaten by United and finish fifth, then lose the cup final, so will enter the Conference League at the second qualifying round.
Dundee Utd
United can still finish in fourth, fifth or sixth place. But in simple terms, they must at least match St Mirren’s result at Celtic Park to qualify for Europe.
Scenario D: United beat Aberdeen and finish fourth. Celtic then win the Scottish Cup, so United enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the second chance of Conference League preliminaries.
Scenario E: United beat Aberdeen and finish fourth, but Aberdeen win the cup, meaning Jim Goodwin’s side enter the Conference League second qualifying round.
Scenario F: United fail to beat Aberdeen, but match St Mirren’s result and so finish fifth. They enter the Conference League at the second qualifying round regardless of what happens at Hampden.
Scenario G: United fail to beat Aberdeen, and St Mirren better their result, so Goodwin’s men finish sixth and do not qualify for Europe.
St Mirren
It’s quiet straightforward for a St Mirren side who looked all but out of the race four games ago, when they were nine points adrift of fifth place – better United’s result and they will be in the Conference League second qualifying round.
The only problem is they have to face champions Celtic on trophy day in Glasgow.
