THE PARS are nudging themselves nearer mid-table security and travel to bottom club St Mirren on Saturday.  

Ordinarily, this would be viewed as a favourable fixture but the Buddies are improving markedly. Victory against table-toppers Hibernian was followed by a gutsy display against Celtic in the Scottish Cup and, as a result, the bookies are struggling to separate the sides.

St Mirren are 6/4, Dunfermline 17/10 (Betvictor) and a draw 5/2. The Pars are drawing games frequently at present and another stalemate is the verdict in this trappy fixture.  

Prediction: St Mirren 1 Dunfermline 1.

The Championship is under the spotlight this weekend with two fixtures being televised live.  

BT Sport 1 is covering the Friday night fixture between Dundee United and Hibernian (7.45pm). The Terrors are 23/10 (Stan James), a draw 5/2 (Betvictor) and Hibs 5/4 (Stan James).  

BBC Alba are also in on the act, their Saturday 5.15pm game features the fourth- and fifth-placed teams, Morton and Queen of the South. The Ton are 6/5, a draw 12/5 and the Doonhamers 23/10 (Betvictor).  

There is only one Premiership game being televised but it is the big one as Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers clash on Sunday (Sky Sports 2, 12pm). The Bhoys are having little trouble dismantling any domestic opposition this season and are 2/5 to see off the Gers. Rangers are 17/2 (Paddy Power) and a draw 17/4 (Bet365). Celtic off a -1 handicap are 11/10 (Coral), Rangers 12/5 (Bet365) and the tie 11/4.

The remaining four Champions League last 16 ties are played to a conclusion next week and the matches involving the English clubs are nicely poised.

Leicester host Sevilla trying to overturn a 2-1 deficit (BT Sport, Tuesday 7.45pm) but are 5/2 to win the game on the night. Sevilla are 11/10 and a draw 11/4. The Foxes are 16/5 (Boylesports) to qualify, Sevilla 2/7 (Betvictor).

Monaco, 3-5 down to Manchester City, are 13/8 (Betfred) to beat the Citizens on Wednesday (BT Sport, 7.45pm), a draw is 11/4 and City 7/4 (Stan James). Monaco are 4/1 to reach the quarter-finals, City 1/5.  

Defences struggled desperately in the first game and those punters expecting more of the same in the second tie can back over 6.5 and 7.5 goals with Coral at 12/1 and 28/1 respectively.  

Juventus are 4/6, a draw 3/1 (Betfred) and Porto 11/2 (Bet365) in the other Tuesday contest, while on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid are 4/6, a draw 16/5 (both prices Betfred) and Bayer Leverkusen 5/1 (Hills).

The highlight of the fourth round of Six Nations matches is England versus Scotland on Sunday afternoon (ITV1, 4pm). The improving Scots are 9/2 (Stan James) to earn a victory, the English 2/9 (Skybet) and a draw 33/1. You should stay with Stan James if you want to back Scotland on the handicap as they are a best priced +12 at even money with the Oxfordshire-based bookmaker. England are a free available -11 at 10/11.