THE PARS will be hoping to build on their bright start to the season when they travel to Palmerston Park on Saturday.

Both sides kicked off with a draw from their opening games but the bookmakers tilt the advantage towards the Pars: Queen of the South are 19/10 (Skybet); a draw 9/4 and Dunfermline 8/5.

Another close match is in prospect but the Pars have been the more impressive thus far and can edge it.

Prediction: Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 1.

BBC Scotland’s live Friday night fixture (7.05pm) features Partick Thistle and Dundee United tomorrow, two protagonists that will be hoping to challenge for promotion. The Jags are 9/5 (Bet365), the Terrors 13/8 (Skybet) and a draw 23/10 (Betfair Sportsbook).

Celtic’s title bid was up and running with a 7-0 demolition of hapless St Johnstone last week and their trip to Motherwell is Saturday’s live encounter (Sky Sports Main Event, 12pm). The Bhoys are 3/10 to collect the three points, the Well are 10/1 (Ladbrokes) and a stalemate 17/4 (Unibet). The Glaswegians are still a shade of odds on with a -1 handicap: with Bet365 and Skybet the prices are Celtic 5/6, Motherwell 9/4 and a tie 11/4.

Rangers host Hibernian on Sunday (3pm) and the Gers are 1/2 (Ladbrokes), Hibs 6/1 and a draw 7/2.

The opposition is getting progressively tougher for Rangers and Aberdeen as their Europa League campaigns reach the third qualifying round. Both games are tomorrow (Thursday) with a 7pm kick-off.

Aberdeen face a tough trip to Croatian outfit HNK Rijeka, a match televised on Premier Sports. Rijeka are 3/4 (Coral), Aberdeen 21/5 (Betvictor) and it is 27/10 (Hills) that the sides cannot be split heading into the second leg.

Rangers visit Midtjylland, who are currently second in the Danish Superliga. Midtjylland are 17/10 (Coral), a draw 11/5 and the Gers 7/4 (Bet365).

England meet Wales on Sunday (Sky Sports Main Event, 2pm) in a warm-up match at Twickenham ahead of next month’s Rugby World Cup. England are 4/9, Wales 2/1 and a draw 28/1 (Boylesports). The handicap is set at England -6 with both teams priced up at 10/11 and the tie with Paddy Power or Betvictor a 22/1 shot.