Maswanhise, Robinson & Hibs v Rangers in focus

The gripping race for the Scottish Premiership title continues this weekend as league leaders Heart of Midlothian travel to Dundee United on Saturday evening, before Hibernian host second-place Rangers and Celtic face Falkirk on Sunday afternoon.

The Tynecastle club are four points clear of Danny Rohl's side, with Celtic two further back in third.

Motherwell will try to continue their fine form when they travel to Livingston, Kilmarnock will hope to end their 17-match winless run when they welcome managerless Aberdeen to Rugby Park, while struggling St Mirren take on Dundee.

Here are the key things to look out for.

Rangers travel to the capital on Sunday with a slightly unfamiliar feeling after they lost for the first time in more than a month in Porto on Thursday.

Their hopes of Europa League progression were already over before the 3-1 defeat in Portugal, but it remains to be seen if it will dent their domestic momentum, which has been relentless since they were beaten at Tynecastle just before Christmas.

Since then, they have won all six of their Premiership matches, scoring 13 goals and shipping just two.

They have moved ahead of rivals Celtic and narrowed the gap to Hearts at the top with that impressive record and another victory would make it the longest winning run of any team in the division this season.

Rangers have won all three matches against David Gray's side this season without conceding and Hibs have only won one of their past 28 Scottish Premiership matches against the Ibrox club.

If they are to improve that head-to-head, Hibs will have to do so without Scotland striker Kieron Bowie, who has arrived in Milan to have his medical in advance of his proposed switch to Serie A outfit Hellas Verona.

Their recent domestic fortunes are in stark contrast to Rangers, too, with a draw at Motherwell followed by a shock Scottish Cup loss against Dunfermline and a thumping 4-1 reverse at Falkirk last time out.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Tawanda Maswanhise has been in magnificent form for Jens Berthel Askou's high-flying Motherwell.

The Zimbabwe forward - adept anywhere across the forward line - has a goal in each of his past four outings, taking him to 16 in all competitions this season for the Steelmen.

Such is his hunger for goals, the 23-year-old was visibly frustrated to be substituted in last weekend's 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock, as Askou protected his leading marksman.

Motherwell travel to bottom club Livingston on Saturday, seeking a fifth victory in six outings and eyes will be on Maswanhise for more than just the threat he poses to Livingston's shaky defence.

Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill was in the stands to watch Motherwell sweep Kilmarnock aside and with the transfer window closing on Monday, rumours continue to swirl over Maswanhise's future.

Celtic are only five points above the Lanarkshire outfit in the Scottish Premiership and Askou insists Motherwell will not sell any of their key players this month.

Maswanhise is probably Motherwell's most valuable asset and their resolve could be tested in the coming days, especially if he extends his scoring run at Almondvale.

It has been a peculiar season for Stephen Robinson and St Mirren.

A glorious day at Hampden in December to win the Premier Sports Cup renders their league struggles almost irrelevant, but they host Dundee on Saturday at risk of being sucked into the relegation battle.

They only have one victory since that glorious triumph over Celtic, a narrow 1-0 success against Livingston on 20 December.

They are five points above Kilmarnock, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, and supporters must be thankful for the struggles of the two teams below them.

After a loss against 10-man Hearts earlier this month, Robinson accused his players of making him "look stupid".

They had lost four matches on the spin at that point and the Northern Irishman was becoming increasingly frustrated by the performances and results delivered by an injury ravaged squad.

Since then though, St Mirren progressed to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Livingston and then drew against the same opposition on league duty.

Robinson took positives from both games and his squad are well rested for this weekend's critical match after last weekend's trip to Tannadice was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

He will also hope January additions Jake Young, Allan Campbell and Kion Etete can have an impact as St Mirren try to climb away from the battle at the bottom.