Four Points Separate Top Three with Four Games Left
Celtic and Hearts supporters will find themselves in an intriguing situation during the upcoming Scottish Premiership fixtures, potentially having to support their rivals.
The first match in the top three contest sees Celtic visit Hibernian on Sunday at 12:00 BST, followed by Hearts hosting Rangers on Monday at 17:30.
Hearts currently lead the table, with Celtic three points behind. A victory for Celtic at Easter Road would level them on points with Hearts, though Celtic would remain behind on goal difference before the Tynecastle fixture.
Hibernian sit six points behind Motherwell in fourth place and five points ahead of Falkirk in sixth, with four games remaining as the battle for European qualification continues.
David Gray's Hibs will require several favorable outcomes to overtake Motherwell, but finishing fifth could still secure European football via the Conference League's second qualifying round, contingent on Celtic defeating Dunfermline Athletic and winning the Scottish Cup.
Defeating Celtic would benefit Hibs in this regard and simultaneously impact their Edinburgh rivals Hearts significantly.
Hibs have earned four points at Celtic Park this season, though their last consecutive wins over Celtic date back to 2007.
"They're not going to throw the game because they're professional footballers," Hearts fan Liam Corbett told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"But the edge to their game is not going to be there because they'll know, having sat and watched us gloat and celebrate from Sunday to Sunday, they have an opportunity to put real pressure on Hearts going into the game on the Monday."
This sets the stage for Rangers, currently third in the standings, to travel across the M8 to Tynecastle.
Rangers' Title Hopes Hang by a Thread
Following a 3-2 home defeat to Motherwell, Rangers' ambitions for the title are precarious. Although only a point behind Celtic, they trail Hearts by four points.
This situation complicates matters for supporters, as Rangers require a win to sustain their title challenge. However, a Rangers victory could simultaneously aid Celtic, assuming Martin O'Neill's team secures a win at Easter Road.
If both Celtic and Rangers win their respective matches, Celtic would be level on points with Hearts but behind on goal difference, and one point ahead of Rangers.
This scenario means that if Celtic win all remaining fixtures, including a home Old Firm derby and the final day match against Hearts, they would claim the Premiership title once again.
"I'll stop short at saying that we're supporting Rangers on Monday night," Celtic supporter Paul John Dykes told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"But it definitely would be the best result.
"I absolutely wouldn't write Rangers off getting a result there because I think that they're hurting. They're a bit of a wounded animal.
"Hearts have meant business all season, Celtic and Rangers have played pass the parcel. We are kind of hoping for a Rangers win because we need snookers, we need snookers due to the goal difference as well."
