Celtic must overcome an old, familiar demon today if they are to establish a three-point lead over Rangers in the closest Scottish Premier Division championship in years.

While Motherwell are at Celtic Park trying to extend a hoodoo that brought them victory on their last visit, Rangers will be finalising preparations for tomorrow's hazardous trip to Aberdeen.

Hearts, the third side in this engrossing race, are at home to St Johnstone, but with work to do. Their recent faltering, especially last week's defeat by Hibernian in the derby at Easter Road, has left them four points off the pace.

In addition to their win against Celtic in Glasgow last November, Motherwell drew 1-1 with Wim Jansen's side at Fir Park a few weeks earlier. This is a team who have no favourites, however, having beaten Rangers at home last month and drawn with Hearts at Tynecastle 10 days ago.

"They're always difficult opponents," said Jansen, who has all of his first-team squad available for the first time in weeks. "Apart from the good results they have had, they have scored five goals against us.

"But we, like Rangers, have our fate in our own hands. We can do it for ourselves by making sure that we produce our form and score the goals that bring the points." Of the four matches remaining for the Old Firm, Celtic have three at home and Rangers have three away. The Ibrox side's manager Walter Smith insisted he was not "trying to be clever or controversial" when he said last week that Celtic, in spite of trailing Rangers on goal difference, should still be favourites for the title.

"I felt that the number of matches they had at home gave them an edge and I still think that's the case," said Smith, who is unlikely to change the team who beat Celtic last Sunday.

"This is the start of the run-in and we have to win all our games. But we've been in that position for a few weeks now and had such a positive response from our players that we have brought ourselves back into contention.

"Every game in Scotland from now on is going to be as intense as I can remember because every team has something to play for."

Hearts, who will be without the midfielder Colin Cameron, cannot afford anything less than victory over St Johnstone. With Rangers due at Tynecastle next Saturday they have to remain within striking distance if they are to revive their hopes of playing a part in the finish.