THE PARS are not losing games but still have an insufficient cushion over the strugglers at the bottom of the division.

Allan Johnston's men have an opportunity to claim a victory when they welcome Dumbarton to East End Park on Saturday. Dunfermline are a best price 10/11 (Bet365/Betfred), a draw is 5/2 and Dumbarton 31/10. After their excellent draw at Hibernian last week, fatalists could predict this contest to be a letdown game. However, the match is too important for the Pars to take lightly and they can snatch the three points.

Prediction: Dunfermline 2 Dumbarton 1.

The Scottish Cup quarter-finals monopolise the television coverage, with three out of the four games being shown live. Unfortunately, the draw has thrown up matches likely to be dominated by the home teams. Rangers host Hamilton in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off (Sky Sports 1, 12.30pm) and despite losing three of their last four league games are still 2/5 (Paddy Power/Stan James) to win at the first time of asking. The Accies are 17/2 (Bet365) and the draw 19/5. The Gers might have been vulnerable against a team higher up the Premiership pecking order but against the ninth-placed club, ought to land the odds.

Prediction: Rangers 1 Hamilton 0.

Celtic’s match at home to St Mirren is the Sunday lunchtime game (Sky Sports 1, 12.30pm) and the Bhoys are 1/12 (Paddy Power/Skybet) to collect another victory. Their Championship opponents are 45/1 (Betvictor) and a stalemate 12/1 (Ladbrokes). The Buddies are slowly improving, to the extent that they might reward those who back them with a reasonable handicap start (Skybet are 11/8 at +3) but it would be a seismic shock if Celtic failed to win the game.

Prediction: Celtic 2 St. Mirren 0.

BBC Scotland have chosen the most interesting (or least uninteresting if you prefer) match for their Sunday afternoon slot (3pm kick-off). Aberdeen entertain Partick Thistle and the bookies show the Jags some respect by offering a reasonable 8/15 that the Dons emerge triumphant. Partick are 6/1 and the draw 16/5 (Bet365). This match may follow the same pattern as the Old Firm games, the favoured team being made to work hard but ultimately succeed in getting the job done.

Prediction: Aberdeen 2 Partick 1.

The one non-live game is the all-Championship contest between Hibernian and Ayr (Saturday 3pm). Hibs are 3/10 (Stan James), a draw 9/2 and Ayr 12/1 (Betvictor). The layers are a bigger price for a Hi-Bees win against lowly Ayr than they were against the Pars the previous week, probably because they realise that Hibs are capable of being sloppy. On this occasion, however, expect the Edinburgh outfit to be fully focused to the extent that, perhaps surprisingly, this may be the game with the biggest margin of victory.

Prediction: Hibernian 3 Ayr 0.