Tannadice tussle, Boyle & Kettlewell in focus
Assuming they survive the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, a full card of Scottish Premiership fixtures are scheduled across Saturday and Sunday.
Leaders Celtic entertain Dundee on Saturday on the back of Wednesday's 1-0 win over Young Boys that books their place in the play-offs for the round of 16, while Rangers head to Tannadice looking to put behind them a late goal that consigned them to defeat at Old Trafford on Thursday in the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen entertain St Mirren, Heart of Midlothian host Kilmarnock, Hibernian visit Ross County, while it is bottom-placed St Johnstone against Motherwell in Perth.
Here are some key points to look out for this weekend.
Game of weekend - Dundee United v Rangers (12:00 GMT, Sunday)
Many United fans had already started to dream of catching a fragile Rangers for the runners-up spot after their side overtook Aberdeen into third place.
The belief that they can make home advantage pay and reduce the 10-point gap with Sunday's visitors will have been reinforced by the 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the last meeting between the sides in November.
Now, considering Philippe Clement's already depleted squad was hit with three more injury blows on Thursday as centre-half Leon Balogun, midfielder Connor Barron and winger Vaclav Cerny were forced off against Manchester United, it could be argued that it is an ideal time to be hosting this Rangers side.
Especially so since Cerny's goals have been worth 10 points to the Glasgow side in the Premiership this season - the most of any player for any side - and the Czech international has also created a league-high 56 chances.
You can add into that mix the fact Rangers have now not won in five games away from home and have earned just 28% their points in the Premiership this season on the road - a league low ratio.
However, United have themselves only picked up 49% of their points at home, with only bottom side St Johnstone having a lower share.
Indeed, Jim Goodwin's side have only won one of their latest four outings at Tannadice - and their Scottish Cup exit away to city rivals Dundee means they have only won once (and scored once) in four overall, losing three of them.
United have also failed to beat Rangers in eight meetings since a 1-0 win at Tannadice in August 2021, with a single goal from Tom Lawrence enough to secure all three points for the visitors there in September.
Almost half of the Rangers squad that day will be unavailable to Clement this time, but even though his young side were unable to extend their seven-game unbeaten run in Manchester, they still gave their Premier League hosts a massive fright until a late winner.
However, they will need those battling qualities again as they look to at last transfer their European and Ibrox form to domestic away days.
Player to watch - Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
A 3-1 comeback win over County at Easter Road in December provided the momentum Hibs needed to go on an eight-game unbeaten run, move off the bottom of the Premiership and into the top six - leapfrogging Saturday's hosts in the process.
Whether he was the inspiration behind it or simply fed off it, Martin Boyle has since rekindled the spark that made him such a potent force during his first spell in Leith, leading to an Australia call-up and a big-money, short-lived move to Al Faisaly.
Only a few weeks ago, some Hibs fans might not have been concerned that the 31-year-old still had not agreed a new contract beyond the summer amid an admission that he would like to play in his father's homeland one day.
However, scoring three doubles in a row - against Rangers and Motherwell in the league then Clydebank in the Scottish Cup - suggests he might be worthy of keeping a tad longer.
Boyle will certainly be fancying his chances of adding to his 12 goals this season considering County are without a win in five home games - losing the latest two to Celtic and second-tier Livingston - while his side arrive unbeaten in three on the road.
Manager in spotlight - Stuart Kettlewell (Motherwell)
As chief executive Brian Caldwell pointed out when revealing that Motherwell had rejected a couple of offers for teenage talisman Lennon Miller, there is hardly a crisis brewing at Fir Park considering they sit fifth in the Premiership - nine points better off than at the same stage last season.
However, with just one victory in their latest eight outings, it has still not prevented some grumblings of discontent among the support directed at manager Stuart Kettlewell.
Particularly after last weekend's Scottish Cup exit away to a St Johnstone side who had gone nine games without a win - five at home - and slipped nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Well get an immediate chance to gain an element of revenge as they return to McDiarmid Park on league duty.
As Caldwell also pointed out, injuries have hit Kettlewell particularly hard, with 18-year-old Miller a key absentee.
Well have therefore bolstered their squad this week by adding Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe, who spent the first half of the season on loan to St Mirren, and striker Luke Armstrong from Carlisle United.
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been busy adding to his squad too, although it remains to be seen whether the latest arrival, former Halmstads midfielder Jonathan Svedberg, is given clearance in time to play.
Whoever plays, that cup win will have given the hosts belief they can extend Well's five-game run without an away win and reverse the two 2-1 league defeats by the visitors this season.
