As Scotland's domestic programme resumes after its winter break today Rangers will be looking to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League when they host basement club Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Dick Advocaat's side have picked up 44 points after 17 games and are firmly in the driving seat as they look to consolidate their position at the top of the table and secure their 11th title in 12 years.

Celtic, meanwhile, are four points behind the reigning champions and have played a game more.

Rangers striker Rod Wallace, who scored 27 times last season as the Glasgow giants secured the domestic treble, has only found the net six times in the current campaign because of recurring injury problems.

But the former Leeds forward insists he is now fully recovered and ready to boost Rangers title hopes.

Wallace must now battle with Scottish international Billy Dodds and Chilean Sebastien Rozental for a place in the starting line-up.

Celtic suffered a blow ahead of tomorrow's clash away to Kilmarnock when it was revealed that new Brazilian defender Rafael could be sidelined for up to eight weeks. Rafael, a £4.8 million signing from Gremio, has been admitted to hospital in Glasgow to have his appendix removed.

Third-placed Dundee United strengthened their forward line ahead of Hibernian's visit today with the capture of Jim Hamilton from Aberdeen for a fee of around £150,000. Robert Tomaschek has been give international clearance to begin his Hearts career and is set to make his competitive debut today at home to Dundee.

Hearts boss Jim Jefferies has targeted a top-four spot this season but despite a £4 million cash injection from the Scottish Media Group, the club have been unable to pull out of the bottom half of the table.

But as his side prepare to take on Dundee, Jefferies knows there will be no excuses if they fail to improve after the winter break.