THE PARS are now 40/1 shots with Paddy Power to win the Scottish Championship, odds that appear quite skinny considering they are already 13 points behind leaders Ayr after only 12 games of the season.

Dunfermline do have a golden opportunity to add another three points to their tally when they host bottom-of-the-table Falkirk on Saturday. Allan Johnston's men are 8/13 (Betway) to win the match, a draw is 3/1 and Falkirk 19/4 (Bet365/Betvictor). The Pars are 17/10 on a -1 handicap, the Bairns +1 are 11/8 (Spreadex) and a tie 13/5 (Bet365).

This is a game Dunfermline should win, moreover so far their only league victory by more than one goal came in the away fixture between the two sides a month ago. Given the wide disparity in prices, it is worth chancing they can win and cover the handicap against their struggling opponents.

Prediction: Dunfermline 2 Falkirk 0.

After a shaky start, Celtic are now making inexorable progress to the summit of the Scottish Premier League and they are expected to see off Livingston comfortably at their Almondvale Stadium on Sunday (Sky Sports Football, 12pm). The Bhoys are 2/9 (Betway), a draw 6/1 (Betfred) and Livi 16/1. Celtic are still odds-on when using a -1 handicap; they are 13/20 (Betway), Livingston 15/4 (Betvictor) and a tie 31/10 (Unibet).

Rangers take on Motherwell at Ibrox later that afternoon (3pm, no television coverage) and are similarly priced prohibitively to dispatch their North Lanarkshire counterparts. The Gers are 2/5, a draw 4/1 and 'Well 15/2 (Betfred). The -1 handicap prices are Rangers 11/10, Motherwell 11/5 (Bet365) and a tie 11/4 (Skybet/Betway).

Aberdeen and Hibernian are two clubs that harbour realistic dreams of obtaining a top-three finish and the pair do battle at Pittodrie tomorrow (Friday) night (BT Sport 1, 7.45pm kick-off). The Dons are 13/10 to claim the spoils, the Hi-Bees 23/10 and a stalemate 12/5 (Hills).

Celtic are in urgent need of a positive result at home to RB Leipzig tonight (Thursday) to avoid being thrown on the Europa League scrapheap (BT Sport 3, 8pm) but are not fancied by the layers. The Saxony side are 19/20 to take the points at Parkhead, the Bhoys are 3/1 and it is 11/4 (Skybet) that honours finish even.

Rangers are embroiled in a tight group and could do with avoiding defeat in Moscow (BT Sport 3, 5.55pm). Spartak are 6/5 (Bet365), while both the draw and the Gers are chalked up at 5/2.