THE PARS continue to improve and on the face of it meet a team on a downward spiral when they travel to Dumfries on Saturday. However, after a seven-match losing run, Queen of the South changed their management and emerged with a creditable 2-2 draw with Falkirk so now might not be the best time to play them.

The Doonhamers are even money with the bookmakers, a draw 13/5 (Stan James) and the Pars 27/10 (Betvictor). A win would take Dunfermline above Queen of the South in the table and a fortnight ago, 27/10 would have been a mammoth price. As it is, the scales tip towards the spoils being shared.

Prediction: Queen of the South 1 Dunfermline 1.

The live Premier League coverage takes place tomorrow (Friday) night, when Rangers travel to New Douglas Park to confront Hamilton. The Accies have drawn 10 of their 17 league games to date and as a result are mired in the bottom third of the table. The Gers are 3/5 (Hills) to record a victory, Hamilton are 21/4 (Betvictor) and a stalemate 10/3 (Betfred).

Celtic host Dundee in a non-televised 3pm Saturday encounter and are 1/8 to notch their 14th league win out of 15. The Dark Blues are 25/1 (Betvictor/Paddy Power) to cause what would be a seismic shock and the draw 8/1. Handicap betting is available on any option between Celtic -6 and +5! Two of the more popular alternatives are Celtic -1 and -2. The prices off -1 is Celtic 2/5 (Stan James), a tie 41/10 and Dundee 23/4 (both prices Unibet) and for -2 the Bhoys are evens (Bwin), a tie 7/2 and Dundee 21/10 (again, Unibet).

There is one other live game as BBC Alba continue their Saturday evening live coverage. Their selection is quite an attractive one on this occasion; Greenock Morton versus table-toppers Hibernian. The Hi-Bees are even money (Coral) to plunder all three points, the Ton are 15/4 (Betvictor) while the draw is a 14/5 chance (Bet365).

Snooker’s Home Nations series continues this week with the Scottish Open in Glasgow. At the time of writing, the competition has reached the second round stage and Ronnie O’Sullivan is the tournament favourite at 10/3 (Paddy Power). Judd Trump is 13/2 (Betfred), John Higgins 7/1 (Hills), Neil Robertson 9/1 (Betfred), Shaun Murphy 12/1 and Barry Hawkins 14/1. Local hope Stephen Maguire is at 33/1, Anthony McGill 50/1 and Graeme Dott 175/1 (Betfred).