THE PARS picked up a decent point at Inverness on Tuesday night but are still closer to Saturday’s second-from-bottom opponents Alloa than they are to the play-offs so victory is a must at the Indodrill Stadium.

The bookmakers price the Pars up at 21/20, a draw 12/5 (Betfred) and the Wasps 11/4 (Betvictor). Dunfermline are more than capable of winning the game but they have already played Alloa twice this season and drew both times.

The value lies in another stalemate. Prediction: Alloa 1 Dunfermline 1.

There are two televised matches in the Scottish Premiership but for some reason, Celtic versus Hearts is not one of them (Saturday, 3pm). A win could enable the Bhoys to catch their opponents if the midweek results have gone in their favour and the bookies certainly think they will claim the three points; Celtic are 4/11 (Skybet), a draw 17/4 (Betway) and the Jambos 9/1 (Betfred).

St Mirren versus Rangers is the Saturday lunchtime game (Sky Sports football; 12.30pm) and the toiling Buddies are predicted to have another sorry afternoon in Paisley: the Gers are 1/3, a draw 4/1 and Saints 10/1.

Kilmarnock are surprising the fancied teams by lying second in the table and could claim another notable result if they see off Aberdeen on Sunday at Rugby Park (BT Sport 1, 12.15pm). The layers are somewhat cagey about this clash but narrowly favour the visitors; Killie are 19/10 (Boylesports), a draw 23/10 (Skybet) and the Dons 13/8 (Boylesports).

The World Series of Darts takes place in Vienna starting tomorrow (Friday, ITV4, 8pm). A 24-man event with the top eight players given a bye into the second round, it ought to be competitive but Michael Van Gerwen is still the odds-on favourite to defend his title. The Dutchman is a best-priced 10/11 (Paddy Power), Scots Gary Anderson at 6/1 and Peter Wright 17/2 are considered the biggest dangers. Rob Cross is 14/1 (Coral), local favourite Mensur Suljovic 18/1 (Paddy Power) and Michael Smith 25/1. All the other protagonists are chalked up at 40/1 or bigger and each way terms are ⅓ odds 1,2.