THE PARS’ bye to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup enables them to fulfil a league fixture at Ross County on Saturday.

The Staggies have stuttered to a two-point haul in their last three games but Dunfermline have fared little better with only one win in their past five matches and are in danger of becoming isolated in lower-midtable.

County are 19/20 (Hills), a draw 13/5 (Bet365) and the Pars 16/5 (Bet365/Betvictor). The overall record of the two clubs suggests that the Highland side are more likely to regain the winning thread and although Dunfermline should not be written off completely, they would have to improve significantly on recent performances to defy the odds.

Prediction: Ross County 2 Dunfermline 1.

Celtic have now reached the Premier League summit and can cement their position by beating Hamilton at New Douglas Park in the Saturday lunchtime game (BT Sport 1, 12.30pm). The Bhoys are 1/5, a draw 7/1 (Bet365) and the Accies 18/1 (Betfair Sportsbook). The field is levelled up off a -2 handicap where Celtic are 6/4 (Paddy Power), Hamilton 7/5 (Spreadex) and a tie 3/1 (Bet365/Betway).

Rangers square up with Livingston at Ibrox in a 3pm game and are a skinny 1/3 (Skybet) to claim the spoils, Livi are 10/1 (Boylesports) and a draw 24/5 (Hills). The ’Gers are 10/11 (Paddy Power) using a -1 handicap; Livingston are 13/5 (Spreadex) and the tie 11/4.

The Autumn rugby internationals continue on Saturday. Scotland will be keen to rectify their slender defeat inflicted by South Africa last week when they take on Argentina at Murrayfield (BBC1, 2.30pm). The Scots are 4/9 (Ladbrokes/Betvictor), the Pumas 5/2 (Betway) and a draw 28/1 (Betway). The best prices on the handicap are Scotland -6 at a general 10/11 and Argentina +7 at evens (Bet365).

England face Australia at Twickenham (Sky Sports, 3pm) and are fancied to get one over on their old adversaries. The English are 4/11 (Hills/Unibet), the Wallabies 11/4 (Betway) and a draw 33/1 (Coral). England are 10/11 (Hills/Betfred) off a -7 handicap while Australia can be backed at +9 at 10/11 (Coral).

The teatime game features Wales taking on South Africa at the Principality Stadium (BBC2, 5.20pm). Such is the difference of opinion between the relative merits of the two teams that both of them can be punted on at odds against: Wales are 21/20 (Betvictor), South Africa 23/20 (Hills) while it is 25/1 (Ladbrokes) that the teams cannot be split at the final whistle.

Ireland are 1/66 to dispose of the United States at the Aviva Stadium (Channel 4, 6.30pm) so the handicap market is likely to hold more interest: Ireland are -37 with Bet365, Hills or Boylesports while the US are +38 with Paddy Power. The price is 10/11 in each case.