Hibs begin life after Gray as Premiership sets up Old Firm derby
Hibernian play their first match since sacking David Gray when Aberdeen visit Easter Road on Saturday.
Five Scottish Premiership games kick off at 15:00 on 19 September, 24 hours before leaders Celtic and second-placed Rangers meet in Sunday's Old Firm derby. Every point won on Saturday will reshape the table before Glasgow takes centre stage.
Gray left on Tuesday after a 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock ended his 12-year stay at the club, according to BBC Sport. John Potter takes interim charge. Hibernian have lost three league games in a row. Another home defeat would make it seven straight home league losses, a club record stretching back to last season.
Aberdeen arrive in Edinburgh with confidence returning. Stephen Robinson's side reached the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with a penalty shootout win over Kilmarnock. They followed that with a 4-0 win over Motherwell on Tuesday. That victory ended a run of four league games without a win and without a goal. Three more points at Easter Road could lift Aberdeen as high as fourth.
Kilmarnock go from one big test to another. Neil McCann's side earned their first league win of the season at Easter Road. They did it despite conceding 14 league goals before the trip to Edinburgh. Now they host Heart of Midlothian at Rugby Park.
Hearts need a response of their own. Wouter Vrancken's team lost to Falkirk on Tuesday. That ended four straight league wins and nine matches without defeat in all competitions. Hearts still start the weekend third on 12 points from six games.
Set-pieces could decide it in Kilmarnock. That means free kicks and corners. Hearts have scored a league-high four goals from them this season. Kilmarnock have conceded five, the most in the division.
Motherwell also need to bounce back. Manager Alfred Johansson takes his side to Dundee after Tuesday's 4-0 home loss to Aberdeen. Motherwell have one win in seven outings. They have not won away since beating Hibernian on the opening weekend of the season.
The other 15:00 kick-offs see St Johnstone host Falkirk and St Mirren host Dundee United, according to the SPFL fixture list. St Mirren begin Saturday fourth on 10 points and can strengthen their early grip on the top half. St Johnstone and Dundee both have seven points, the same as Aberdeen. Hibernian are ninth on six points, with Falkirk, Dundee United and bottom-placed Kilmarnock below them.
Celtic set the pace on 18 points from six games, five clear of Rangers. The top two meet on Sunday.
What makes Saturday stand out is the noise around it. A new voice in the Hibs dugout. A Kilmarnock side suddenly believing. An Aberdeen team scoring again. For fans, this means a full afternoon of jeopardy before the derby even kicks off.
