What's next in best title race in Europe?

By the time you're heading for your kip on Saturday night, a drastic influx of people might be inclined to give the green light to carving Hearts' name on the Scottish Premiership trophy.

Or maybe not. Would anybody be surprised if the weekend ended with the momentum of a twisting-and-turning title race - which many regard as the continent's most gripping - swinging in a different direction?

Following a fortnight off, Scotland's top flight returns with gameweek 30 of a season as unpredictable as it is enthralling.

But what's the state of play? Who plays who? And how pivotal could yet another blockbuster weekend prove to be?

While Hearts had last weekend off - having already suffered Scottish Cup elimination - Celtic were dumping Rangers out in a chaotic quarter-final, as Motherwell, also out of the competition, played catch-up in the league.

Defeat for Jens Berthel Askou's men - who are now 10 points off top spot - at Dundee in their game in hand has hushed talk suggesting they are the fourth horse in this incredible race for the title.

However, the Fir Park side - whom former Celtic striker Chris Sutton describes as the UK's best footballing team - are only five points behind the Parkhead club before Saturday's encounter (15:00 GMT) in the east end of Glasgow.

Martin O'Neill will be the third different Celtic manager Motherwell boss Askou has faced in three games, losing 3-2 late on to Brendan Rodgers in October before schooling Wilfried Nancy in December.

Speculation has linked Danish coach Askou - thanks to the remarkable job he has done this season - with the Parkhead job in the summer, but Celtic's immediate focus is narrowing the five-point gap to Hearts.

If they can build on their penalty shootout success at Ibrox last weekend and secure victory, the leaders' advantage will be cut to two by the time they kick off at struggling Kilmarnock later in the evening (20:00 GMT).

Motherwell, however, will fancy their chances, aiming to move to within two points of a Champions League qualifying place and seven off the summit for a few hours at least.

There were concerns about Celtic's performance last Sunday, when they registered just a single shot at Ibrox, and there are fears influential captain Callum McGregor could face more time out, while left-back Kieran Tierney also remains a doubt.

Midfielder Arne Engels is also injured - along with long-term absentees Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Jota - and centre-back Auston Trusty will face the final match of a three-game suspension.

There is simply no downplaying the magnitude of any Hearts fixture with history in sight.

Head coach Derek McInnes is leading his players into one of the most significant periods in the club's 152-year history, but there are no signs that pressure is weighing too heavy for his squad with just nine matches remaining.

Would playing after Celtic have narrowed the gap to two points change that? Well, that is a realistic prospect McInnes' men could face when they go to Kilmarnock.

It is also possible that O'Neill's men have dropped more Premiership points by the time Hearts get under way in Ayrshire, with an away crowd of more than 4,000 backing them. What an opportunity that would present.

Kilmarnock, who are currently second bottom, had shown encouraging signs in their fight for survival under former Tynecastle winger Neil McCann before a brutal 5-1 defeat at Falkirk last time out.

McInnes is wary of his old side, though, and he is predicting more "twists and turns" while aiming to avoid "putting too much pressure" on his players. "The squad looks calm," he insists.

The leaders have also been boosted by the news that key duo Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will return to training next week.

Where does that leave Rangers, then?

Head coach Danny Rohl has been the subject of criticism from fans of the Ibrox club after his players failed to capitalise on total domination during their Old Firm cup exit last weekend.

And with the German's side six points off top spot - a margin that could be extended by the time they start against managerless St Mirren on Sunday (12:00) - there is increased pressure and little room for error.

Craig McLeish, Jamie Langfield and Allan McManus will lead an interim team for the League Cup holders and Scottish Cup semi-finalists, who are scrapping for their top-flight status, following Stephen Robinson's departure to Aberdeen.

The Paisley club have won just one of their past 13 Premiership matches - which came against leaders Hearts - but Rangers' recent form is not too clever either.

Rohl and his players are now facing questions about mentality - an all too familiar story at Ibrox - despite the 36-year-old saying a month ago that he was heartened by a mindset shift in his players.

A defeat at Tynecastle in December was followed by a run of seven wins and a draw in eight league matches, but Rangers have since won one of their past four league games - a 4-2 victory against Hearts.

That form stretches to one win in five when you include Sunday's cup game. In fact, they have won just three of their past nine in all competitions.

If this alarming drop-off is not addressed urgently, it will prove terminal for Rangers' title hopes and intensify the pressure on Rohl from a demanding support.