THE PARS return to league action with an important home game against the team immediately above them in the table, Ayr United.

Victories over St Mirren and Buckie Thistle are sowing the seeds of recovery for Athletic, who the bookies make 11/10 to claim a third win in a row. The Honest Men are 12/5 and a draw 13/5 (Betvictor). Dunfermline would not be the most convincing 11/10 shots you will come across but with Ayr claiming only one point from their last four matches, the Pars are taken to land the spoils.

Prediction: Dunfermline 1 Ayr 0.

The live football action begins at Saturday lunchtime, where Motherwell take on Celtic (Sky Sports 2, 12.15pm). The 'Well are halfway up the league but a mere two points off the bottom as clubs continue to jostle in their bid to pull away from the dreaded bottom spot. The bookmakers do not give the Lanarkshire side much hope, 16/1 is their price to claim the three points, while the Bhoys are 1/5 and the draw 6/1. Handicaps are available if you fancy wagering to more even prices; Celtic -1 is 4/7 (Paddy Power), a tie 7/2 (Betway) and Motherwell +1 4/1 (Betvictor) and off -2 Celtic are 6/4 (Paddy Power), a tie 13/4 (Unibet) and Motherwell +2 29/20 (Coral).

Rangers versus Aberdeen is likely to be a pivotal game in the scrap for the runners-up spot behind Celtic. The match is a normal Saturday 3pm kick-off and the Gers are 5/4 (Betvictor), a draw 12/5 and Aberdeen 12/5 (Paddy Power).

BT Sport are also enjoying a slice of the action and in their case it is a Friday night (7.45pm) kick-off concerning the top two in the Championship, where Dundee United host Hibernian. The Terrors are 6/4, a draw 5/2 (Ladbrokes) and the Hi-Bees 9/5 (Stan James).

The favouritism boot is firmly on the other foot when Celtic travel to meet Manchester City in the final round of matches in the Champions League on Tuesday night (BT Sport Xtra, 7.45pm) as it is the Glaswegians who are rank outsiders. City are 4/11 (Betfred), a draw 5/1 (Betbright) and Celtic 11/1 (Betfair Sportsbook). Manchester City -1 is 5/6 (Paddy Power), a tie 16/5 (Hills) and the Bhoys +1 11/4 (Bet365). The -2 handicap has the Citizens at 21/10 (Paddy Power), a tie 17/5 (Unibet) and Celtic +2 21/20 (Stan James).

BBC Alba are focusing on the Rugby Pro12 league and fifth meets first when Glasgow host Munster on Friday night (7.35pm kick-off). The match is predicted to be a tight encounter with Glasgow priced at 5/6 (Paddy Power), a draw 16/1 and Munster 21/20 (Betvictor). The Irish firm also provide odds for a Glasgow -1 handicap where both sides are available at 10/11 and the tie 22/1.